Met with Representatives from Vantage Data Centers
- hollingsheadforcom
- May 27
- 2 min read
Had a very good meeting this week with representatives from Vantage Data Centers regarding their proposed project in Laramie County. I appreciated the opportunity to sit down one-on-one for an open, candid discussion about the project, community concerns, infrastructure, workforce needs, water use, and long-term impacts.
A couple of the biggest concerns I continue to hear from the public are water usage and the potential impact on power rates. We spent a good amount of time on both of these topics.
On water, the project proposes a closed-loop cooling system, meaning the water is continuously recycled rather than used in a single cycle. The only ongoing water use would be typical commercial uses, such as restrooms and employee facilities. At full buildout, their estimate is that domestic water use would be roughly equivalent to about 75 homes per year. They also explained that any cooling system fluid would be periodically replaced and hauled off-site for proper disposal, rather than being discharged into groundwater.
Regarding energy, the company stated it plans to generate on-site power using natural gas, thereby reducing strain on local utilities. They also indicated they will operate under large-load tariffs and ratepayer protection agreements, which they say are intended to ensure that local residential ratepayers do not cover infrastructure costs tied to the project. This is an area I will continue to watch closely and ask questions on as the project moves forward.
We also discussed workforce housing, construction traffic, and opportunities for local contractors and trades. There is an effort to phase construction over several years, with the peak workforce expected to ramp up and then taper off rather than all at once. The company also expressed interest in partnering with local institutions, such as LCCC, to help train and develop the workforce needed for these jobs, with the goal of keeping those employment opportunities local and creating long-term career pathways for residents.
I continue to encourage companies entering our community to be upfront, transparent, and specific with their details—because that’s what builds trust. I also encouraged them to continue holding public meetings so residents can ask questions directly and get answers in real time. As I am aware of the public meetings, I will pass the information along.
My goal remains the same: ensure Laramie County residents have accurate, up-to-date information so they can form opinions based on facts, not fear or outdated data. I’ll continue to keep the community updated as this project develops.
