Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed Executive Order 2026-03, titled “Data Centers the Wyoming Way,” on June 4, 2026, to guide the development of AI data centers and advanced computing projects. The order directs state agencies to support growth while closely reviewing potential impacts on water, power, residential electricity costs, workforce needs, and the environment.
The move comes as major tech companies—Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft—are expected to spend roughly $650 billion on AI and data center infrastructure in 2026. Wyoming aims to capture part of that investment by offering cheap land, abundant energy, and business-friendly policies. Governor Gordon emphasized that the state is “uniquely positioned to lead” in building the infrastructure for AI and the digital economy.
At the same time, the order highlights the intensifying competition for power resources. AI data centers already place significant demand on U.S. grids, and Wyoming’s framework will require consistent standards for project approvals. The order also carries implications for Bitcoin mining operations that have established a foothold in the state.
CleanSpark, a publicly traded Bitcoin miner, expanded into Wyoming in 2024 after securing 75 megawatts of power contracts and acquiring two mining sites with a combined capacity that could add over 5 exahashes per second to its hashrate. Other miners, including IREN, MARA Holdings, Cipher Digital, Hut 8, HIVE Digital, and TeraWulf, have similarly explored AI and high-performance computing (HPC) services as a way to diversify revenue following the 2024 Bitcoin halving. Wall Street analysts at Bernstein have even placed TeraWulf and Cipher on an “emerging AI infra” watchlist, signaling that these firms are increasingly viewed as power-backed infrastructure plays rather than pure crypto producers.
While the executive order does not explicitly target Bitcoin miners, it establishes rules that will shape how mining companies, AI developers, and other data center operators compete for power and local approvals. By setting clearer review processes, Wyoming hopes to attract high-tech investment while safeguarding communities and natural resources—potentially benefiting miners who already have infrastructure and power agreements in place.
