Billionaire property owner to take over data center project in Natrona County

A sprawling data center and energy complex proposal east of Casper is not dead, according to the property owner, despite Prometheus Hyperscale pulling out of the project earlier this week.

Falls Ranch, a limited partnership owned by Texas billionaire Russell Gordy, announced this week that “work will continue without delay.”

“The work by the community and local leaders has helped lay the foundation for a project with the potential to position Natrona County as a leader in the growing data center industry, building on Wyoming’s energy resources, skilled workforce and experience supporting major industrial development, and should not be wasted,” Falls Ranch stated in a press release following Prometheus’ announcement.

Though it was not involved in initial development plans, according to the company, the groundwork has been laid for it to see the project to fruition.

“We anticipate that with this change, the project should continue forward on a more efficient track, including community and business collaborations,” Falls Ranch representative Robert Hand said. “This has always been a Wyoming project, but today it represents something even greater: an opportunity for Natrona County to shape its own economic future.” 

More details will be revealed in the near future, Hand added.

Prometheus announced its departure from the project Wednesday. Originally, the $500 million, 1,250-megawatt complex was to be sited on Falls Ranch property spanning Natrona and Converse counties north of Interstate 25. In its latest configuration, it would sit entirely in Natrona County, south of the Interstate.

The move opened the door for developers to bypass a state-level Industrial Siting Council review and permitting process to instead empower Natrona County commissioners to vet the project. If green lit locally, however, the endeavor would still be subject to review from several state and federal agencies. That process had not advanced beyond initial discussions before Prometheus exited the project.

Prometheus is still pursuing a similar data center and energy complex in Uinta County, and the company indicated it is looking for more data center opportunities elsewhere in the state.