Black Hills Plans $1.8B Google Data-Center Power Build

Black Hills Corp. plans to invest $1.8 billion from 2027 to 2029 in new natural-gas generation to help power Google’s planned data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The utility will build 564 megawatts of capacity and provide up to 590 megawatts of grid service, while coordinating about 2.1 gigawatts of third-party resources through a private microgrid; the overall mix includes reserves. Power deliveries are expected to begin in late 2027, with demand reaching its peak by 2030. Black Hills projects about $150 million in additional net income by 2030 and says Google will cover the costs so they are not shifted to other customers; the agreements extend through 2048.