Poll: Should The Wyoming Legislature Meet In A Special Session On Data Centers?

The issue of data centers in Wyoming has come to the forefront in 2026.

So much so that there is talk of a special session of the Wyoming Legislature to deal with concerns about the facilities.

According to Rep. Daniel Singh, "To clarify- it is not a statewide moratorium. The session would be focused on state statutes having to do with large electrical generation, water issues, and relevant infrastructure realities amongst other things."
Sen. Cheri Steinmetz is asking fellow  lawmakers about a special session after

Governor Mark Gordon issued his "Data Centers The Wyoming Way" executive order last week.

In a news release, Sen. Cheri Steinmetz wrote the following:

"Now, despite growing public concern over water, electricity rates, land use, infrastructure impacts, and the lessons from other states already struggling with unchecked data center growth, the governor appears determined to fast-track data center development under the banner of doing it “the Wyoming way.”

She says the governor's order sounds more like a development plan for data centers than a plan to protect Wyoming

Further in the release, in a section titled  "The Legislature Must Act,", Steinmetz adds

"Under Wyoming’s separation of powers, the Legislature writes the laws and sets public policy; the executive branch carries those laws out. If Wyoming is going to decide how much water, power, infrastructure, and public risk should be committed to data centers, shouldn’t that decision be debated publicly by the people’s elected legislators?"

Arguments For And Against A Special Session

For the most part, calling a special session this year is based on the idea that the centers are expanding rapidly in Wyoming and that the issue isn't something that can wait until the legislature meets again in January of 2027.There is also a feeling among some that local governments aren't listening to the public on data centers and are only seeing the potential tax revenues such facilities would generate without considering the impacts.

But opponents of a special session see it as more of a local issue than a state one. Others don't see an issue at all and accuse data center opponents of spreading false information and hysteria based on emotion rather than facts. Since 2026 is an election year. some people also suspect a special session would be more about legislators indulging in political posturing for votes  than actually dealing with real issues.

So what do you think? Take our poll and give us your opinion!