The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is expected to approve a proposal from Microsoft to install 128 diesel-powered backup generators at new data centers planned near Cheyenne. The public has until May 21 to comment on the project before final approval is granted.
Microsoft plans to build several new data and computing facilities about five miles southeast of Cheyenne. The generators are intended for emergency use only, in case of a power outage, Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins told WyoFile.
Although Microsoft receives power from local utility Black Hills Energy, it must still secure an emissions permit from the DEQ’s air quality division. The company also needs permission for fuel storage — up to 1.8 million gallons of diesel across several tanks, according to state documents.
The DEQ issued a notice in April stating it plans to approve the permit. A public hearing will only be held if an “aggrieved party” formally requests one.
If approved, the permit would allow Microsoft’s generators to emit certain levels of air pollutants. These include nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can contribute to smog and haze.
Microsoft currently operates data centers in and around Cheyenne, employing 85 people. Mayor Collins said the company plans to build four more facilities in the area. Microsoft projects that its local workforce will grow to 335 full-time employees by the end of 2026.
Despite the use of diesel fuel, Microsoft has committed to becoming carbon-negative by 2030, meaning it aims to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits.
