Former BP CEO Bernard Looney takes over Wyoming hyperscaler Prometheus

Looney, who resigned from BP in 2023, will lead the company's $30 billion data center projects in Wyoming and Texas.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:50pm

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Bernard Looney, the former CEO of BP who resigned in 2023 amid a probe into undisclosed personal relationships, has taken over as the new CEO of Wyoming-based data center company Prometheus Hyperscale. Prometheus is focused on building massive data center campuses in Wyoming and Texas, with a combined initial capacity of 2.5 gigawatts. Looney became non-executive chair of Prometheus in late 2024 and is now taking over as CEO from the company's founder.

Why it matters

Looney's move from the oil and gas industry to the data center business highlights the growing importance of digital infrastructure and AI technologies. Prometheus is aiming to build its data centers using cleaner energy sources like wind, solar, and advanced nuclear power, which aligns with Looney's previous focus on renewable energy at BP.

The details

Prometheus is primarily focused on two flagship data center projects in Wyoming—in Evanston and Casper—with a combined initial capacity of 2.5 gigawatts, enough to power almost 2 million homes. The two projects are expected to cost more than $30 billion. Prometheus is focused on speed of construction and on cleaner energy, utilizing a combination of behind-the-meter natural gas and battery storage to get projects completed and then utilize more wind, solar and even advanced nuclear power. The data centers are expected to use a proprietary geothermal cooling technology that doesn't require water.

  • Looney became non-executive chair of Prometheus in late 2024.
  • Looney takes over as CEO from the company's founder, Trenton Thornock, in March 2026.

The players

Bernard Looney

The former CEO of BP who resigned in 2023 amid a probe into undisclosed personal relationships. He is now the new CEO of Prometheus Hyperscale.

Prometheus Hyperscale

A Wyoming-based data center company that is focused on building massive data center campuses in Wyoming and Texas, with a combined initial capacity of 2.5 gigawatts.

Trenton Thornock

The founder of Prometheus Hyperscale, who will remain a board member after Looney takes over as CEO.

Meg O'Neill

The former Woodside Energy head who becomes the first-ever woman CEO of a Big Oil giant, taking over as BP's new CEO on April 1, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“As artificial intelligence and digital technologies continue to reshape our world, it is crucial that we build the necessary infrastructure responsibly. This is the mission we have set ourselves.”

— Bernard Looney, CEO, Prometheus Hyperscale

What’s next

Prometheus is expected to continue its rapid expansion of data center projects in Wyoming and Texas, leveraging Looney's experience in the energy industry to build more sustainable and efficient facilities.

The takeaway

Looney's move from the oil and gas industry to the data center business highlights the growing importance of digital infrastructure and the need for more sustainable approaches to powering the technology that is reshaping our world. Prometheus' focus on clean energy and innovative cooling technologies could set a new standard for the data center industry.