On June 3, 2026, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed Executive Order 2026-03, Data Centers the Wyoming Way, establishing the Wyoming Data Center Development Framework. The order follows the President’s June 2, 2026 executive order promoting advanced artificial intelligence in support of national security, and it positions Wyoming as a prime location for the next wave of data center and large-load development. In announcing the order, the Governor’s Office framed the message simply: Wyoming welcomes technological innovation, but development will occur on Wyoming’s terms.
EO 2026-03 establishes a framework consisting of the following principles:
- Water sustainability,
- Wildlife and natural resource stewardship,
- Transparency and public engagement,
- Energy leadership and national security,
- Grid stewardship,
- Revenue-driven economic growth,
- Responsible workforce growth, and
- Community investment.
For data center developers, hyperscalers, and the power producers supporting them, EO 2026-03 is best understood not as a new permitting program but as a statement of expectations. The order expressly preserves existing statutory authority and directs executive branch agencies to apply a consistent set of principles when permitting, regulating, or facilitating large-scale data center projects.
The Wyoming Data Center Development Framework
Section 3 of the order lays out the eight framework principles identified above. Several carry direct implications for project planning and environmental strategy.
- Water sustainability is front and center. The state will encourage advanced technologies and best practices that minimize water consumption and protect water quality, with an explicit nod to innovative cooling and operational technologies appropriate for Wyoming’s semi-arid climate. The Governor has publicly noted that well-designed facilities can keep water use below that of an average subdivision. Cooling technology selection will shape not only water demand but also the air permitting profile of the facility, since cooling towers are themselves an emission source.
- Grid stewardship and ratepayer protection commits state agencies to policies ensuring that incremental infrastructure costs associated with data center development are borne by those creating the demand, insulating residential and small-business utility customers from rate impacts. Developers evaluating grid interconnection, versus on-site or co-located generation, should factor this cost-allocation posture into early feasibility work.
- Wildlife and natural resource stewardship, transparency, and community investment round out the environmental and social expectations. Agencies are directed to provide transparent information on project impacts and to guarantee meaningful opportunities for public participation, while local town and city councils and county commissioners retain their authority over siting and nuisance issues. The order also emphasizes workforce development through the University of Wyoming, community colleges, and school districts, along with revenue generation for local governments and public services.
Section 4 directs agencies to coordinate with one another, local governments, utilities, natural resource managers, educational institutions, and economic development partners. It also directs agencies to deliver recommendations to the Governor within 60 days on policy improvements and potential legislative actions.
Air Permitting Implications for Wyoming Data Centers
While EO 2026-03 does not change Wyoming’s air quality regulations, it reinforces that projects will be reviewed within the state’s existing framework. Data centers typically require fleets of fossil fuel-fired emergency generators for grid outages, and depending on facility size, the cumulative potential to emit from those engines (plus cooling towers and any on-site generation) requires construction permitting under Wyoming’s New Source Review program. Larger projects may require Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) review.
The same considerations for due diligence and air permitting for data center development apply in Wyoming. The difference is that now they sit alongside the Governor-level encouragement to bring those projects to the Cowboy State. Projects that arrive with a credible environmental strategy, addressing air, water, and wildlife together, will be best positioned to move through review efficiently and earn local support.
For assistance with data center permitting and environmental due diligence in Wyoming, contact Trinity’s Cheyenne office at 307.209.2301 or reach out to Hanna Warlick directly.
