Red Desert Wyoming Transformation: 1,000-Acre Dome Network

Red Desert Wyoming Transformation: 1,000-Acre Dome Network

Wyoming's 9,300 sq mi Red Desert could be transformed through 1,000-acre polycarbonate domes ($2.5B each) featuring sand-resistant geodesic frames with integrated solar, hybrid microgrids, and atmospheric water harvesters. Each dome would house multi-tier hydroponics (quinoa, agave) and closed-loop aquaculture (tilapia, goats). Covering 10% (930 sq mi) would require 600 domes ($1.5 trillion) plus $300B infrastructure, while a 20-dome pilot ($50B) could yield 31 sq mi of farmland and feed 250,000+ people. Larger domes offer 60% material savings versus 100-acre units through reduced perimeter ratios and centralized systems. Key challenges include groundwater permits, $15B automation costs, and thermal management, though costs could dip below $2B/dome via on-site manufacturing and drone assembly.