October 12, 2023 |
PHOTO – Power Company of Wyoming Logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Carbon County commissioners denied a request from the Power Company of Wyoming for a permit extension.
During the October 3rd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Power Company of Wyoming General Council Lisa Christian asked the board to grant a five-year conditional use permit extension.
As part of the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project, the Power Company of Wyoming is constructing 600 wind turbines south of Rawlins. When completed, the project will generate roughly 3,000 megawatts of electricity. Christian said such a large project will take a long time to complete. Christian said the TransWest Express transmission line must be finished before Chokecherry can begin selling electricity to southern California.
Christian said the plan is to have both the Chokecherry and Transwest Express projects 50% completed by 2027. After that, Christian said Power Company of Wyoming will work to finish the two projects within a few years. Christian explained that the permit extension was needed to meet the later completion date.
Commission Chairwoman Sue Jones reminded Christian that the conditional use permit was valid until September of 2024. Chairwoman Jones asked why Power Company of Wyoming can’t begin construction on the Chokecherry project under the current permit. Christian said because electricity generated at the Chokecherry site can’t be sold to local users, Power Company of Wyoming must wait until the TransWest transmission lines are completed before beginning operation.
Christian said she doesn’t know exactly who will buy the energy produced at the Chokecherry site yet. No contracts have been signed apparently.
County Attorney Ashley Davis said the Power Company of Wyoming has already exceeded the number of allowable conditional use permit extensions.
Attorney Davis said the permit extension granted in 2019 is valid through 2024. The county attorney said Power Company of Wyoming is allowed an additional two years after the permit expires to begin operation. However, Attorney Davis said the commissioners aren’t legally allowed to provide any more extensions on the conditional use permit.
Christian acknowledged that Power Company of Wyoming has received three extensions already. Christian said the county’s Planning and Zoning commission has authorized the additional permit extension. County Attorney Davis said the regulations state that the board of commissioners are unable to authorize any more than two extensions.
Chairwoman Jones told Christian that the board isn’t hostile to the Power Company of Wyoming. Jones said she has worked for over a decade to ensure the rules are fair for every company that seeks to do business in Carbon County. The commission chairwoman instructed Christian to meet with Attorney Davis to come up with a solution.
Christian agreed to confer with the county attorney. The Power Company of Wyoming general council chose to withdraw her conditional use permit extension at this time.
