America's reddest state chases billion-dollar boom as others sour on massive emerging industry

As Americans weigh the costs and benefits of massive data centers emerging in their towns to fuel the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, the country's reddest state could be poised to capitalize on billions of dollars in investment that other states are increasingly reluctant to welcome.With wide-open spaces, abundant energy and a business-friendly environment, Wyoming has many of the ingredients tech companies are looking for as they race to expand their AI infrastructure in the U.S.The opportunity comes as the rapid buildout of data centers has sparked political fights across the country over their enormous electricity demands, water use and tax treatment.As some states and communities consider new taxes, restrictions or even moratoriums on data center construction, Wyoming has a chance to position itself as an alternative.Supporters argue the projects could bring billions of dollars onto local tax rolls and potentially ease the burden on homeowners.THIS TINY FARMING TOWN YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF IS HELPING MICROSOFT SELL AMERICA ON DATA CENTERSVirginia has long been the nation’s data center hub, while Wyoming is emerging as a potential destination for the next wave of AI infrastructure investment.

(Lexi Critchett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)And Wyoming already checks many of the boxes data center developers are looking for."Data centers need a few things.They need land, they need affordable energy, they need to avoid natural disasters, and of course they need regulatory approval," Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the Tax Foundation, told Fox News Digital.The Cowboy State also already has high-capacity fiber running along major interstate corridors, Walczak said, giving developers another key piece of infrastructure."If more states start imposing discriminatory taxes just on data centers, then places like Wyoming, at least as long as they don't do likewise, can become even more attractive," he said.ONE OF THE WORLD'S HOTTEST INDUSTRIES IS SPARK...