Laramie County Commission Votes Against Wind Project

Laramie County Commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-1 against a proposed 56,000 acre wind farm proposal in northwestern Laramie County.

Commissioners Linda Heath, Ty Zwonitzer and Don Hollingshead voted against the project. Acting Chairman Troy Thompson was the lone vote in favor, and Gunnar Malm was absent.

Local realtor and landowner Wendy Volk, who spearheaded a drive to hold off on approving the project for now, gave Townsquare Media of Cheyenne the following statement:

" I want to thank the Laramie County Commissioners for rejecting the permit for the Laramie Range Wind Project. By listening to the overwhelming concerns of residents, the commission affirmed that local land use decisions must be guided by careful analysis, public health and safety, and the long-term stewardship of our community’s natural and cultural resources. Their vote sets a precedent that Laramie County will not allow industrial-scale development to move forward without fully addressing impacts to our land, water, wildlife, and quality of life. This is the Wyoming way—citizens engaged, commissioners attentive, and a commitment to protecting our county for generations to come.”

Company Touted Big Economic Impact

The project had been proposed by Repsol Renewables. The company said the 650 megawatt project will generate enough electricity to power about 200,000 Wyoming homes annually, It also says the project will provide 300 family wage jobs  during peak construction and 23 long-term local jobs once it's up and running.

It also touted economic benefits, including $194 million in property and production tax revenues to fund local schools and critical infrastructure

But Volk and other critics said the information on the project was incomplete and vague.

Volk says one concern is traffic during construction. "What they are saying is during peak construction, they will have 305 construction workers a day driving our Horse Creek Road. They are saying, I think, 275 semi trucks a day." Volk says that is an important consideration, and that it wasn't initially disclosed in a letter the company sent out in June.

Volk says she also would like to see more detail on the claimed economic impact. In her words "show me the money."

Commissioners Heard A Lot Of Complaints About The Proposal

The commission on Tuesday heard a lot of concerns about the project, Besides traffic issues, people were critical of the impact on wildlife and the scenic nature of the area. Several dozen people spoke against in a meeting that ran four hours.

The commission vote followed a Laramie County Planning Commission decision last week to put off approving a permit until state regulators could weigh in.