Wind farm is being considered for Summit County
By Carolyn Murray | KPCW | www.kpcw.org
Summit County hosted a public meeting to outline a proposed wind farm development for an area in northern Summit County near the Wyoming border. Predictions suggest the farm would produce enough energy to power thousands of homes. The meeting was well attended by curiosity seekers wanting to know more details about the project.
Summit County Development Director, Pat Putt says the construction of the wind farm would have to be approved through a conditional use permit. He says they would identify wind turbine pod areas. The precise locations would not be identified until more detailed study is done.
“What we’re talking about is the possibility of a hundred-megawatt wind generating facility up Echo Canyon near the Wyoming border. It would allow 30 to 39 wind turbines to be constructed.”Planners would look at several considerations before making the final decisions on where the turbines would be built.
The wind, the wildlife, the view sheds. Those sorts of things like that. What’s intriguing about this is what we could potentially achieve in terms of generating green energy. From what we are being told, what’s being explained to us is this facility is capable of powering 22,000 homes per year. Putt says the energy created would be connected to a nearby Rocky Mountain Power Transmission line. Putt says the next wind farm work session is July 18th with the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission.
“Most folks were just there to find out more about the project. How many wind turbines are being proposed? What are the next steps ahead of us? There’s more education both from the planning commission standpoint and the public standpoint.”
Summit County Council member Chris Robinson and his son-in-law’s family own the land that is being considered for the wind farm. He told KPCW he would be involved only as a landlord and would recuse himself from county decisions.
The next public hearing is planned for August 15th and Putt hopes many more members of the public participate.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/07/06/wind-farm-is-being-considered-for-summit-county/