Natrona County Board of County Commissioners - September 1, 2026

The Natrona County Board of County Commissioners held a regular meeting on September 1, 2026, with significant focus on a proposed large-scale data center project by Prometheus Hyperscale. The project involves phased construction of a data center campus with substantial economic benefits, including an estimated 3,000 temporary construction jobs and a 70% increase in the county's property tax base. Prometheus representatives detailed the project's design, emphasizing minimal water use through closed-loop cooling, on-site power generation to avoid impacting residential electric rates, and mitigation plans for noise, lighting, and traffic. The board discussed the permitting process, community engagement, and potential impacts on local infrastructure and environment. Public comment featured a mix of support and opposition, with concerns raised about environmental effects, water use, noise, traffic, and long-term land use impacts. The board also approved a bid award for phase two of the Hurst gravel pit project and authorized up to $130,000 from the one-cent fund for park shelter construction, to be reimbursed by a grant. No final decisions on the data center zoning or permits were made; the project remains under review with further studies and public input anticipated.