KEY POINTS
-
Google announced its first Wyoming data center on Nov. 5, with a stated $17 billion investment in Laramie County.
-
The company says the project will use air cooling and a planned 702-megawatt fuel-cell development with carbon capture and storage.
-
Google’s Nov. 5 announcement did not include a construction schedule.
Google plans to invest $17 billion in its first Wyoming data center, pairing the Laramie County project with a large power development and an air-cooling strategy, the company announced Nov. 5.
Google named Tallgrass Energy, Black Hills Energy, American Electric Power and Related Digital as partners.
Its plan includes a 702-megawatt fuel-cell development under contract with AEP, to be manufactured by Bloom Energy. The megawatt figure refers to the planned fuel-cell development, not the data center’s stated capacity.
Google’s $17 billion plan arrives as ConstructConnect reports Nonresidential building starts totaled $500.2 billion, up 34.7% year to date through the end of September 2026. Offices, a category that includes Data Centers, were up 173% and supplied 72% of the increase, according to ConstructConnect’s October 2026 Construction Economy Snapshot.
[Read Data Centers Lift Construction Starts, but There's More to the Story, from ConstructConnect Chief Economist, Michael Guckes]
What is the Power Plan for the Google Wyoming Data Center
Google said the natural-gas fuel cells will use carbon capture to permanently store a large majority of emissions at Tallgrass Energy’s nearby Eastern Wyoming Sequestration Hub.
The company said, "Fuel cells efficiently convert fuel, in this case natural gas, into electricity through a safe electrochemical reaction. The fuel cells for this project will be made in America by Bloom Energy and will help minimize emissions and water use in the production of energy for our data infrastructure."
Google plans to source power from natural-gas generators operated by Tallgrass and Black Hills Energy while studying carbon capture for Tallgrass’ combined-cycle turbines.
Air cooling will reduce pressure on local water resources, Google said. The company will pay for 100% of the power it uses and infrastructure needs directly driven by its growth, Google said in its statement.
Election Results Provide Broader Policy Context
Data centers were an issue on the ballots last week in US elections. Voters favored limits on data center development in 40 of 41 local ballot measures on Nov. 3, including six-month moratoriums in three Maine towns, according to Ballotpedia.
The results provide broader context for the potential risk some data center projects may face, not evidence of a specific threat or delay to Google’s Wyoming project.
What's Next
Google’s Nov. 5 announcement did not specify a construction start date, general contractor or construction manager. It also did not outline project phasing or procurement schedules.
Stay Connected
Stay connected with ConstructConnect News for construction industry news and construction market analysis to stay ahead of what’s building next.
About ConstructConnect
At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions and maximize productivity.
ConstructConnect is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), part of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000.
For more information, visit constructconnect.com
