05/27/2026
What Do We Want Casper, Wyoming to Become?
That may be one of the most important questions facing not only Casper, but also Bar Nunn, Mills, Evansville, and communities across Wyoming today.
Over the last several years, we have watched opportunity after opportunity come knocking on our door, only to be met with the same response from a vocal group of “not in my backyard” opposition. The question I continue to ask is this:
If not these industries… then what industries ARE we willing to allow here?
At one point, the nuclear industry showed serious interest in our area. Instead of taking the time to truly understand modern nuclear technology, spent fuel storage, and the enormous safety advancements that have been made over the last several decades, many immediately rejected the idea out of fear. The conversation often ended before facts were even discussed.
Now, we are seeing similar resistance toward data centers. These facilities, proposed for private property, are not even relying on our public electrical grid in the way many assume. Yet once again, opposition rises before many people fully understand what is actually being proposed.
So I ask again:
What exactly DO we want?
Wyoming has always been an oil and gas state. We are proud of that history, and we should be. Generations of hardworking Wyoming families built this state through the energy industry. We survived the boom-and-bust cycles because Wyoming people are resilient.
But the reality is changing.
Even today, with a Republican President, global conflict driving energy concerns, and oil prices higher than many expected, Wyoming is still not producing energy the way it once did. The world is evolving, technology is evolving, and industries are evolving. If we refuse to evolve with it, we risk becoming stagnant while other states move forward.
We desperately need diversification.
Not because we abandon our roots, but because we protect our future.
We need industries that create careers for our children and grandchildren. Industries that give young people a reason to stay in Wyoming instead of leaving for Colorado, Texas, Arizona, or elsewhere to find opportunity. Industries that bring skilled labor, technology, innovation, and long-term investment into our communities.
At the same time, I understand the concern many people have about growth. Most of us do not want Casper to become another overcrowded metropolitan area. We value the hometown feel, the open spaces, the sense of community, and the Wyoming way of life.
But there has to be a middle ground.
There has to be a way to responsibly attract good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy, and secure our future without losing what makes Wyoming special.
So this is an honest question to the community:
What industries ARE acceptable?
If the answer is “not nuclear,” “not data centers,” “not manufacturing,” “not technology,” and eventually “not energy,” then what exactly is the vision for the future of Casper and Wyoming?
Because saying “no” to everything is not a growth strategy.
At some point, we need to decide whether we want to be part of shaping Wyoming’s future or simply watching opportunity pass us by while our kids build their lives somewhere else.
This is not about politics.
This is not about developers versus citizens.
This is not about forcing growth.
This is about having an honest conversation about what kind of future we want for our communities and whether we are willing to embrace responsible opportunities when they arrive.
So tell us:
What SHOULD we build?
What industries SHOULD we attract?
What opportunities SHOULD we pursue?
Because if we can answer that question together, then maybe we can finally start building a stronger future for Casper, Bar Nunn, Mills, Evansville, and Wyoming as a whole.
