James Byrd: “National Security Begins at Home — Cheyenne Neighborhoods Cannot Be Left in the Dark”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2026
Contact:
Campaign Press Office – James Byrd for U.S. Senate
Madison Shamley, Campaign Manager, Madison@byrdforsenate.com
Jill Cumer, Communications Director, jillcumer@gmail.com
Former State Rep. James Byrd Calls for Federal Grid Investment to Protect Civilian Communities Surrounding Military Bases Following Pentagon Directive
CHEYENNE, WYO. — Today, James W. Byrd, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, released a statement addressing the Pentagon’s new FORTRESS initiative and recent remarks by former base commander Colonel Tucker Fagan (Ret.) regarding power grid vulnerabilities in Cheyenne and across Wyoming.
Byrd emphasized that while F.E. Warren Air Force Base maintains dedicated backup systems for its strategic missile mission, civilian families living just beyond the base fence line remain directly exposed during major power grid failures.
“When a major grid failure strikes, F.E. Warren’s mission-critical operations rely on dedicated underground fuel reserves,” said James Byrd. “But the families living in the avenues of Cheyenne, our local small businesses, and our rural communities don’t have military-grade backup systems buried in their backyards. As Colonel Fagan pointed out, our neighborhoods draw from the exact same power grid as the base. If that grid goes down, local residents are the ones left most vulnerable.
National security isn’t just about protecting military assets inside the gate—it’s about making sure our citizens have heat, clean water, power, and working communications when a crisis or cyberattack hits. Federal defense infrastructure planning cannot stop at the base gates.”
As a former 10-year member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (District 44), professional geophysicist, and IT systems analyst, Byrd outlined three key legislative priorities for the U.S. Senate:
Protect Surrounding Civilian Neighborhoods: Direct federal defense and infrastructure resources to harden municipal power grids, support community microgrids, and secure backup utility systems for Cheyenne and neighboring communities hosting defense installations.
Bring Next-Generation Energy Jobs to Wyoming: As defense planning shifts toward advanced microreactors and microgrid resiliency, Wyoming—with projects like TerraPower in Kemmerer—should lead the nation in constructing and deploying state-of-the-art energy technology.
Secure Local Fuel and Supply Chains: Resolve nationwide distillate fuel inventory bottlenecks so local agriculture transport, emergency services, and military logistics aren’t forced to compete for limited fuel during a prolonged grid outage.
“Prudent military leadership plans for worst-case scenarios on base,” Byrd concluded. “Prudent Senate leadership delivers the federal backing to ensure the civilian communities surrounding those bases are protected, too. In the U.S. Senate, I will fight to bring our tax dollars home to strengthen Wyoming’s energy grid and keep our local families safe.”
About James Byrd
James W. Byrd is a fifth-generation Wyomingite, professional geophysicist, IT analyst, and former member of the Wyoming House of Representatives representing District 44 in Cheyenne (2009–2019). He is the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in Wyoming. Learn more at byrdforsenate.com.
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Cheyenne neighborhoods cannot be left in the dark
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