Power Company of Wyoming (an affiliate of the Anschutz Corporation) spoke before the Saratoga Town Council and audience members, explaining the proposed Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project northwest of Saratoga.

Power Company of Wyoming (PCW) representatives Kara Choquette, Director of Communications, and Roxanne Perruso, Vice President and General Counsel, detailed the 1,000-turbine project, as well as the nearly 800 mile TransWest Express Transmission line, explaining both to be large providers of local jobs and tax dollars.

Perruso told the council that the turbine project would be a three-year phased construction with an expected completion date of 2012. She added that the wind farm would be 2,000 to 3,000 megawatt project covering over 98,500 acres on the Anschutz affiliate-owned Overland Trail Ranch.

Perusso said PCW is now two years into an Environmental Impact Statement for the wind project in order to be compliant with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, with a draft EIS planned for this summer, 2010.

Peruso added the PWC is utilizing the Core Area Strategy, concerning the Sage Grouse, plus “taking action to enhance sage grouse habitat”.

With regards to the transmission line, which will traverse four states before ending in Nevada, Perusso said the 3000 MW line would run parallel with Interstate 80 before dropping south in Sweetwater County.

The transmission line, coupled with the wind turbine project, will be delivering renewable energy produced in Wyoming to the Desert Southwest, according to Perusso.

Choquette told the council that the wind energy project “would bring millions of dollars to Carbon County.”

Specifically, Choquette said in the first year, nearly $28 million to $42 million of property tax will be paid into Carbon County.

Choquette said nearly 1,284 construction jobs will be created in the first phase of the project, with 800-plus in the next two years.

“This influx of workers will add increasing demand for local hotels/restaurants and other local products and services,” Choquette added.

Choquette said there would be approximately 114 permanent, full-time positions once the wind farm is in full production.

House District 47 Representative Jeb Steward (R) stood to tell PWC, as well as the council and audience, he appreciated the fact that the company was very “open to the public” concerning both the wind turbine and the transmission line project.

In other news, the council unanimously accepted the sub-lease request from Dr. Dean Bartholomew to allow Dr. Ken Schulze, of Rawlins, to practice two to three days a month at the Platte Valley Medical Clinic.