Wind farm permit set for county vote

Residents in the area 11 miles southeast of Cheyenne will see a formal vote on a new energy project later this week. The Laramie County Planning Commission reviewed the Chalk Bluffs Energy Project on Nov. 12 and is preparing a recommendation for the Board of Commissioners. The developer, Enyo, seeks a Class C Conditional Use Permit to build 12 wind turbine generators in the county. This is the most stringent type of permit, which requires multiple public hearings and a detailed concept plan before work can begin.

The application describes a 5,210-acre project. While the bulk of the solar energy and battery storage infrastructure is located in Weld County, Colorado, the Wyoming portion will host the wind turbines and power connections to town. These connections include below-ground cables and above-ground high-voltage transmission lines. The transmission lines require a 125-foot right-of-way. The plan also includes meteorological monitoring stations, lay-down yards, and construction roads.

County staff recommend approving the permit. However, local opposition remains strong. At a meeting last month, residents voiced concerns about the planned route for the transmission lines. Cathy Yosten, a neighbor to the proposed route, wrote to the Planning Commission last month. She questioned why the line jogs toward her property instead of running in a straight line through pasture land to the south. Yosten stated the route appears to be a deliberate move to affect homes in a residential area that has existed for 100 years.

The transmission lines are not part of the current permit request and must be approved separately. The permit currently under consideration would allow Enyo to install the dozen turbines. Some residents also oppose the turbines themselves, citing a desire to keep them away from homes and preserve wild prairie views. Enyo said it is adjusting the projected path of the lines and the siting of the turbines to address these concerns. The company is also in negotiations with property owners to provide landscaping and berms to minimize visual impacts.

Agency comments submitted to the commission are largely positive. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department commended Enyo for selecting a site with low wildlife impact concerns. If the county approves the project, Enyo plans to begin work in Laramie County in the second half of 2027.

The project is expected to generate more than $7.53 million in property taxes over the next 30 years. Enyo estimates the project will create 436 full-time equivalent jobs during construction. After the site is fully operational, it will provide 35 total jobs in the county.