Slowing the wind

BOCCC consider moratorium on energy projects

It is often joked that in Wyoming the wind is so prevalent, when there’s a day without it everyone in the state falls flat on their faces. This seems especially true for Carbon County, especially around Hanna and Medicine Bow.

Due to the surplus of wind in the area, the past decade has seen a number of energy companies converge on the Cowboy State with wind energy projects. What has been unknown since windmills and transmission lines began cropping up, however, is the impact it has had on local wildlife. An ongoing study from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is seeking to determine the impact on Wyoming’s most numerous population of wildlife, the pronghorn. While the final results of this study aren’t expected until 2025, initial findings are leading the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) to consider a moratorium on future wind development in the county.

In August, Saratoga Wildlife Biologist Teal Cufaude and Laramie Wildlife Biologist Lee Knox appeared before the commissioners to discuss initial findings of the study. The following month, Cufaude and Knox were joined by Matt Kaufman, leader of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit out of the University of Wyoming, Embere Hall and Cody Wallace. Though the final results of the study won’t be released for another four years, observation of the Medicine Bow Pronghorn Herd Unit had shown the animals were experiencing negative effects from wind energy development and there was a loss of habitat.

The early findings from the study were enough to serve as a catalyst for the BOCCC to consider a temporary stay on future wind energy development. A discussion regarding that moratorium took place at the November 2 meeting of the commissioners.

It should be noted, and was noted by Commissioner John Espy, while the commissioners used the term “migration corridors” the proper term is “migration routes”. To date, only two migration corridors have been established in Wyoming.

“We were all involved in that discussion (on) what the Game and Fish is doing on migration corridors for winter range on antelope and pronghorn in the Shirley Basin area,” said Chairman John Johnson. “One of the proposed ones is right smack dab in the middle of that migration corridor and I think it’s prudent for us to let them see that study through before we throw more fuel at the fire.”

“That study is currently being funded by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, PacificCorp and BluEarth Renewables. It’s goal is to evaluate whether pronghorn change their seasonal movements or winter habitat use in response to wind energy development and to evaluate if movement changes cause pronghorn to reduce their use of winter areas that contain the highest quality browse,” said Commissioner Sue Jones. “They have found, on this study, that Ekola Flats Wind Project is right in the middle of a migration corridor. I don’t know what they do about that but the bigger picture in this scenario is the Shirley Basin area and that’s where the heavy weight of this study is. That area is now open. There are proposed projects, a very large one proposed to go out there. Personally, I think it is kind of critical, particularly in that Shirley Basin area that this study allowed to be completed before any development of the scale they are currently planning in Shirley Basin goes into effect.”

With four years to wait for the final results of the study, Johnson proposed a sunset date on the moratorium of 2025. He added the BOCCC could examine the moratorium on an annual basis with updates from the WGFD on additional results prior to the expected date of final results.

“As with anything else, the devil’s in the details. We’re looking at one particular area, the Shirley Basin where the study’s taking place, to do that kind of stuff,” said Commissioner Travis Moore. “In terms of project planning, is that a halt to those activities or simply the breaking ground and stuff and no disturbance until after the study’s completed.”

Johnson stated project planning would be able to move forward, but the project itself couldn’t come before the commissioners until the study was complete. Jones added a moratorium would not impact any current projects being undertaken, stating the infrastructure and operations for Rocky Mountain Power was already “up and going”. Additionally, according to Jones, the moratorium would likely not affect any process with the Bureau of Land Management.

“I know that the energy companies, they’re always involved with the Game and Fish and I think they’re looking at a different level of involvement as far as it comes to siting and those kinds of things,” said Jones. “Nobody really had the data until after the fact in Ekola Flats. Everybody can start over and do better the next time and do it differently and be a little more informed. I think this gives that time.”

Though wind energy and its impact on the Medicine Bow Pronghorn Herd Unit were the catalyst for discussion of the moratorium, Jones stated it should include all renewable energy projects citing a recent solar energy project in Sweetwater County. Discussion between the BOCCC and Attorney Ashley Mayfield-Davis appeared to conclude the resolution should be extended to cover any animals migrating through the Shirley Basin in addition to pronghorn.

While there was no formal motion, the BOCCC stated they would work on a resolution. Included in the agenda for the November 16 commissioners meeting was “Resolution for Emergency Moratorium for Energy Development”.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners will have met at 9 a.m. on November 16. The next meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners will be at 9 a.m. on December 7 at the Carbon County Courthouse in Rawlins.

 

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