Wyoming Courts Billions in AI Data Centers as Other States Weigh New Taxes

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 10

Wyoming is positioning itself to capture billions of dollars in AI data center investment as backlash grows elsewhere over the facilities’ power use, water demands and tax treatment.
Abundant land, affordable energy, high-capacity fiber and a business-friendly regulatory climate give the state an edge, Tax Foundation senior fellow Jared Walczak said.
Cheyenne rejected a 1-year moratorium on new data centers in May, though Wyoming lawmakers have still weighed taxing the facilities more heavily by classifying them as industrial property.
Walczak argued the payoff could be large: data centers can add billions to local tax rolls and potentially ease homeowner tax burdens if operators cover the generation and transmission costs they require.
Loudoun County, Virginia, offers the model supporters cite—data centers provide about 45% of local tax revenue there, and homeowners would otherwise pay roughly $5,800 more a year.