Google Acquires Crusoe’s Wyoming Data Center Project, Commits $17 Billion Investment

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Crusoe sold its unfinished Wyoming data center project to Google, which plans a $17 billion investment to complete the facility using advanced carbon capture and fuel cell technologies, underscoring the complexities of large-scale AI data center development.

Crusoe, a Denver-based data center developer valued at $30.9 billion, has sold an unfinished data center project in southeastern Wyoming to Google. Originally announced in 2025 with Tallgrass Energy's Blackstone-backed infrastructure support, the project aimed to scale up to 10 gigawatts of power capacity but faced difficulties securing equipment, power, and managing timelines under Crusoe’s stewardship. Google, which Crusoe had unsuccessfully courted as a customer for the site, took over the development after raising concerns about cost and construction timing.

Google has committed $17 billion to develop this first Wyoming data center campus, marking a significant investment in the state. The project is being designed to minimize environmental impact by employing advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and fuel cells manufactured by Bloom Energy. These 702 MW fuel cells convert natural gas into electricity electrochemically, reducing emissions and water consumption. CCS will enable capturing the majority of carbon emissions for permanent geologic storage via the nearby Eastern Wyoming Sequestration Hub, representing the largest deployment of such technology at commercial scale.

In addition to air cooling technology to conserve local water resources, Google plans to invest in workforce development, local education, and community initiatives in Laramie County. The company has engaged extensively with residents and stakeholders, responding to concerns about economic benefits, job and career opportunities, and the broader impact of data center growth on the Cheyenne community. A Community Council, including Google and its partners, has been established to foster collaborative solutions to community challenges.

While Google assumes control of the Wyoming facility, Crusoe remains involved in data center projects, including one near Amarillo, Texas, for Google. Crusoe earns revenue through leasing data center space, providing GPUs, and selling compute power for AI inference. Its largest ongoing developments include campuses in Texas for Oracle, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta, with the first Microsoft building expected by mid-2027.

Crusoe's origin as a natural gas-powered cryptocurrency mining operation has evolved significantly since founding by Chase Lochmiller and Cully Cavness. Despite the Wyoming project's challenges, Crusoe secured $3.9 billion in funding in September 2026, attracting board members like JB Straubel of Redwood Materials and Tesla, whose energy-storage business counts Crusoe as its first customer.

This transaction underscores the complexities and substantial capital requirements of building massive AI-focused data centers amid logistical, environmental, and community challenges. Google's investment in Wyoming highlights a strategic commitment toward sustainable infrastructure growth supporting both technological and local economic development in the region.