Tuesday, AUGUST 12, 2025 |
Photo – Seminoe Reservoir canyon area – Bigfoot99 file photo
Seminoe Pumped Storage Project representatives deny claims that they haven’t contacted the Industrial Siting Council.
On August 5th, Bigfoot99 reported that Wyoming Industrial Siting Administrator Jenny Staeben informed the Board of Carbon County Commissioners that rPlus Hydro, the developers of the proposed Seminoe Pumped Storage Project, had not contacted the Industrial Siting Council to apply for a construction permit. In Wyoming, any project with an estimated build cost exceeding $253 million must obtain a permit from the Industrial Siting Council before beginning construction. With an estimated cost of over $3 billion, the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project clearly meets that threshold. Speaking to the Board of County Commissioners on July 14th, Staeben said rPlus Hydro may be under the mistaken assumption that it is not required to engage with the Industrial Siting Council.
The Seminoe Pumped Storage Project involves constructing a 10,000-acre-foot artificial lake on top of Bennett Mountain at Seminoe Reservoir. When electricity is abundant, water will be pumped 1,000 feet uphill from the lower reservoir into the upper storage lake. During periods of high energy demand, that water will be released downhill through an underground hydroelectric turbine, generating electricity. Essentially, the project will act like a giant battery.
The day after the story aired, Maile Resta, Communications Associate for rPlus Energies, the parent company of rPlus Hydro, contacted Bigfoot99 reporter Matt Copeland to dispute the Industrial Siting Administrator’s statements.
In her email message, Resta acknowledged that rPlus has not yet begun the formal Industrial Siting Council’s permitting process. However, Resta stated that rPlus has discussed the project with the Industrial Siting Council in the past, including during its early development more than five years ago.
Resta wrote that rPlus spoke with Industrial Siting Council staff this past spring and confirmed that the project would require the Council’s approval.
Back at the July 14th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Wyoming Industrial Siting Administrator Jenny Staeben confirmed that rPlus Hydro is aware it must obtain a permit from her organization before construction can begin, but has yet to do so.
In her email response, rPlug Energies Communications Associate Maile Resta wrote that the Industrial Siting Council has consistently advised the company to begin the formal permitting process during the later stages of project development. Construction is still at least two years away, with the project still undergoing licensing through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. Resta wrote that rPlus fully intends to submit a permit application to the Industrial Siting Council after the completion of the FERC licensing, which is set be finished by January 15th, 2027.
Bigfoot99 has requested a formal interview with rPlus representatives to further discuss the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project. We will provide updates as new information becomes available.
