State air quality regulators are inviting public comment on Microsoft’s proposal to install 128 diesel-fired electric generators at a new data center complex planned for construction just five miles southeast of Cheyenne.
The new facility, which will add to Microsoft’s existing data centers in the area, would rely on the diesel generators primarily for backup power, according to Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins. These generators would serve as a contingency in the event of power interruptions, he said.
In order to proceed, Microsoft must obtain an emissions permit from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The permit would also cover approval for associated storage tanks that could hold up to 1.8 million gallons of diesel fuel.
The DEQ issued a notification in April stating its intent to approve the permit, but first, it is seeking public input. Comments are being accepted until May 21. The DEQ does not plan to hold a public hearing unless an “aggrieved party” requests one.
The proposed permit would allow certain emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants are sometimes linked to ozone and haze, according to state documents.
Microsoft, which already operates several data centers in the region, plans to build four additional facilities in the Cheyenne area. The company currently employs 85 people in Wyoming and expects that number to grow to 335 by the end of 2026. Microsoft has also committed to becoming carbon-negative by 2030.
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