Ed Herschler was Wyoming’s governor during a period of unprecedented growth in our energy sector. Coal, oil and gas extraction were booming in the 1970s, and folks were nervous as hell about how to handle it. Herschler’s motto during those times was, “Growth, on our terms.”
State government put in place systems and controls to manage the boom cycle, to ensure that growth benefited the Big Empty, instead of running rough-shod over us. Almost fifty years later, we Wyomingites are still reaping those benefits on “our terms.”
It seems like every new advance in human technology is met with fear, trepidation and pearl-clutching skepticism. The unknowns scare us spitless, and we resist anything new. Until a leader like Gov Ed comes along and puts some steel in our collective spine and tells us that, if we impose our terms, change can be a good thing.
Data centers are no different. I read today that some Luddites are planning a nationwide demonstration against data centers. Imagine what Wyoming would be like today if, back in the 1970s, we had banned coal mines and told the oil and gas companies that the Overthrust Belt was off-limits.
Without the wealth produced by those developments, we’d all be eating prairie dogs and paying state income tax now., and our kids would high-tail it to greener pastures after the sixth grade.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no expert on the intricacies of data centers. I do know that they gobble up vast amounts of electricity and water, and they produce artificial intelligence.
The AI part doesn’t worry me a bit, since it is just the human mind on steroids. And, whether we like it or know it or not, AI is already an integral part of our daily lives.
I ran an experiment a couple of years ago, and asked AI to write a column for me . The AI chatbot didn’t do a bad job, but the piece lacked my certain savoir faire, my folksy charm and my acerbic wit. All in all, I don’t worry about AI replacing me.
But there are many in our population who cower under the covers and blow snot bubbles of fear anytime something new pops us. They have nightmares of apocalyptic scenarios that never happen.
Those folks were convinced, when the kerosene industry killed the whale oil industry, and the internal combustion engine deep-sixed the buggywhip business, that civilization was doomed. Yet here we are.
It is in our nature to shy away from revolutions whether agricultural, industrial or information, but to eventually embrace and enjoy each advancement to human culture that they provide.
So, I don’t have nightsweats about artificial intelligence, or the output of data centers. I’m more concerned with the inputs...the water and electricity. That is the arena in which we citizens of Wyoming must insist on our terms.
We have, since the energy boom of the 70s, legislated checks and balances on large-scale developments, and have laws regulating the extent that such projects can impact our state. We have almost fifty years of experience applying “our terms” to industrial development. If we apply those terms to data centers, we’ll enjoy the growth they bring without being gobbled up by them.
But our governmental entities need to have the balls to impose those terms on huge companies that flash wads of cash at them for data centers. They need to be tough statesmen like Gov Ed. Companies wanting to do business in Wyoming must be made to know that they will pay their fair share, and won’t be allowed to screw up the Cowboy State for profit.
And both government and industry must have their feet held to the fire to be completely transparent with Wyoming citizens about data center developments and their impacts to their neighbors. The recent water contamination caused by construction of a data center near Cheyenne, and the secrecy surrounding it should drive that point home to everyone.
A lack of transparency will create doubts in citizens’ minds at a time when a new industry can least afford it. One of “our terms” must be that we are fully informed all the time.
If the data center industry is willing to develop in Wyoming on our terms, I see no reason why it wouldn’t be a good thing. It’s kind of exciting stuff.
Rod Miller can be reached at RodsMillerWyo@yahoo.com
