The Wyoming Air Quality regulator is soliciting public opinions on a proposal from Microsoft. Microsoft plans to build new data and computing facilities five miles southeast of Cheyenne and install 128 diesel power generation units along with them.
Microsoft currently operates multiple data centers in and around Cheyenne and has signed a cooperation agreement with the local power supplier, Black Mountain Energy Company. Mayor Patrick Collins of Chayon City told WyoFile that these diesel generators are highly likely to be used only as backup power sources, “in case of any power outage for any reason.”
According to relevant documents of the state, Microsoft not only needs to obtain an emission permit from the Air Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, but also needs to obtain the approval of the department for a series of related oil storage tanks, which can hold up to 1.8 million gallons of diesel at most.
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice in April, indicating its intention to approve the permit. However, public opinions will be considered before approval, and the public opinion solicitation will end on May 21. According to the department, the Ministry of Environmental Quality does not intend to hold a public hearing on the license application unless requested by an “affected party”.
According to the documents submitted to the state, this permit will allow for certain levels of pollutant emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc. These pollutants are sometimes related to the formation of ozone or smog.
Collins disclosed that Microsoft plans to build another four facilities in the region. A situation statement from Microsoft shows that its data center in Wyoming currently employs 85 staff members and is expected to increase the number of full-time employees to 335 by the end of 2026. Microsoft also committed to achieving the goal of negative carbon emissions by 2030.
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