Wind Power News: Wyoming
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Mead continues to push for wind tax reduction
“I’m not sure we’re really happy with wind in Wyoming,” [Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, a member of the Senate Revenue Committee] said. “We’re not happy that the long-term impacts have been thought out. We’re not happy about the impacts on our view shed.
“We’re not happy about impacts on our wildlife — we’re not happy about impacts on our hunting opportunities.
Commission comments on wind farm proposal
Among responses to the Bureau of Land Management by people and groups interested in enXco’s proposed wind project at the south portion of Quaking Aspen Mountain are official comments from Sweetwater County. While many have voiced either support or opposition to the proposed wind project, the county’s comments re-iterate the its comprehensive plan goals and stances on wildlife, visual impacts, as well as other issues it feels the BLM should look at while accumulating data for its environmental impact statement . . .
BLM hears wind farm concerns
Residents concerned about a proposed wind farm on the south side of Quaking Aspen Mountain spoke with Bureau of Land Management officials and representatives of enXco — the company proposing the project — Monday night. The public comment period to the BLM was recently extended to Dec. 27. One Green River resident, Tommy Wiekhorst, said he was concerned if the proposed wind towers, which will measure 575 feet from base to blade tip, would be viewable from his house. “I . . .
Despite appeal, Wasatch Wind says it’s on schedule for 2012 completion
A Wasatch Wind spokesman says that the company is still on track to begin construction of its Pioneer Wind Parks south of Glenrock next year and to begin generating power by the end of 2012, despite numerous appeals filed challenging their permits. Appeals of the company’s permits by the Northern Laramie Range Alliance and others at the county, state and federal level have not deterred Wasatch from its plans to complete the project in 2012. The NLRA is opposed to . . .
States, feds join forces to protect sage grouse
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Gov. Matt Mead and officials from western states Friday discussed a strategy to save sage grouse and keep them off the federal endangered species list. If grouse numbers dwindle and the federal government is forced to protect the bird through the Endangered Species Act, ways of life in western states — including oil and gas development, renewable energy efforts, hunting and fishing — will be at risk, Salazar said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is . . .
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar: Protecting sage grouse saves jobs
The changes include a moratorium on wind-power development in core sage grouse habitat or in areas where the birds are known to breed. They also limit total disturbance by oil and gas development to no more than 5 percent, or 32 acres, of every square-mile section of land in core habitat, or no more than one well pad per square mile in core habitat.
$750 million wind farm proposed for area
CHEYENNE – The city of Cheyenne stands to make more than $100 million and possibly draw a wind blade manufacturing facility here under a proposal presented Wednesday. The Morley Company of Jackson Hole is proposing building a 300-megawatt, $750 million wind farm composed of 120 towers on the west end of the city-owned Belvoir Ranch, which is six miles west of the city. The proposal was presented to the Cheyenne City Council during a work session. The project would only . . .
Quaking Aspen Wind Energy Project scoping period extended
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office (RSFO) is extending the scoping period for the Quaking Aspen Wind Energy Project and will host a public meeting on Monday, Dec. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Patio Room, 1675 Sunset Drive, Rock Springs, Wyo. Public scoping on the Quaking Aspen Wind Energy Project began Nov. 8, with the publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal . . .
Hands off Aspen Mountain
I feel the need to comment on current plans for wind generation in Sweetwater County. Planning is under way for a farm on White Mountain, one or two on Aspen Mountain, and then a massive one in the eastern end of the county that will probably go all the way from the continental divide, down to the Colorado border and maybe all the way to hook up with the Arlington wind farm. This is a pretty large area to sacrifice . . .
Groups discuss wind farm impact on historic sites
Mitigation factors were a key discussion point in a non-public meeting Wednesday about the Chokecherry Sierra Madre wind farm project. U.S. Bureau of Land Management archeologist Pat Walker met with several state and federal historical and cultural organizations in Rawlins. The purpose was to develop an agreement between the Power Company of Wyoming, the developer of the 1,000-wind turbine farm located south of Rawlins, and the historical and cultural societies. When completed, the agreement will spell out the mitigation PCW . . .
