County Rejects Laramie County Wind Farm

After a long fight and loud public outcry, the Laramie County Board of Commissioners has denied a controversial wind project.

The Laramie Range Wind Project was to place 170 wind turbines across a large area north of Cheyenne.

A 3-1 vote denied the project.

But is this the end of the project? Proposals this big usually go into appeal, as those on the losing end do not want to give up on something that they see as profitable.

There were many reasons for the public opposition, including the project being an eyesore, bird and bat kills, as well as other ecological problems that come with large wind projects.

During hours of testimony, residents expressed concerns about water use, historical land use, viewshed, cultural impacts, fire concerns, and road use.

Acting Chairman Troy Thompson was the only one who voted for the project, siding with the landowners who were hoping to make money from the project.

Repsol Renewables wants to develop a 650-megawatt (MW) wind project in the northwest corner of Laramie County, Wyoming, that, they claim, would generate enough electricity to power approximately 200,000 Wyoming homes annually.

So why this area in Laramie County?

Repsol Renewables has identified the area within Laramie County as suitable for wind development because of its proximity to the existing transmission system with available capacity, a compatible wind resource, site suitability with existing land use, and minimal anticipated environmental impacts. Laramie County is already home to several operational wind projects, and the Laramie Range Wind Project will further strengthen the County’s growing wind energy industry. (Repsol Website).