US Data Centers Pose Health Risks as Wyoming Expands Hyperscale Facilities

The United States operates more than 5,500 data centers, with thousands more under construction. These facilities consume large amounts of energy and water, raise local utility costs, and involve the production of PFAS chemicals. A significant share of their power—about 56%—comes from natural‑gas and coal plants, leading to carbon emissions and particulate‑matter pollution from on‑site diesel generators and off‑grid gas turbines. A study of a data center in Loudoun County, Virginia, linked emitted PM2.5 to local health impacts and premature deaths.

In Wyoming, the number of active data centers ranges from 27 to 31, including major hyperscale sites operated by Microsoft Azure and Meta. These sites support cloud computing, AI workloads, and internet traffic. New projects such as the Prometheus Hyperscale expansion are already under construction, highlighting the rapid growth of critical infrastructure in the state.