The Platte County Commissioners on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve the Chugwater Energy Project, a huge wind and solar farm expected to generate 450 megawatts of wind and solar power.
The project approval came in three votes, with commissioners unanimously approving the permits necessary for the wind portion expected to generate 300 megawatts of energy, the solar part of the plan expected to generate 150 megawatts of energy and a 150-megawatt battery energy storage system.
The project will be developed by NextEra Energy Resources on 49,500 acres and will include up to 150 wind turbine generators.
The construction phase will create up to 300 jobs, with eight to 12 full-time positions for ongoing operations, the company says.
Commissioners voted for the project following several hours of public hearing from a standing-room-only crowd.
Numerous farmers and ranchers spoke in favor of the project, including several of the 30 landowners who are granting leases to NextEra to make the project happen.
Some against the project cited health risks, hazardous waste and a hyper-focus on money.
Public Hearing Objection
Eight concerned people objected to holding the public hearing, claiming county commissioners had not publicly determined that the wind and solar applications were complete.
One was Thomas Szott, a Cheyenne lawyer representing Wheatland resident Jill Kaufman. Szott sent a letter to county attorney Rex Johnson last week detailing his argument for why the public hearing should not move forward.
On Wednesday, Johnson acknowledged he had received the lawyer’s letter on May 15.
“I received it at 6:05 Friday night, which gave me something to do over the weekend ... besides spending time with my three granddaughters,” he said.
He told Szott that his objections held no merit and that arguing about the law now would have little value.
“If you are disappointed with the outcome of these proceedings, you can ask a judge to opine on the matter,” he said before suggesting the commissioners proceed with the meeting.
Planned Power Line Location To Move
Eric Jones, representing Chugwater, said the town supports the project overall.
However, he and Chugwater Mayor Joshua Hopkins took issue with the project’s proposed location for a main power line connected to the project, saying it would impact the town’s viewshed.
“We are opposed to a power line cutting across the main portion of the valley,” Hopkins said.
Jones requested that the line be moved to at least a mile north of town. That request was OK’d by NextEra representatives.
“At this point, I think we’re committed to being a mile away from the town of Chugwater,” said developer Anthony Bianchini, a senior project manager with NextEra.
Kissing Drought Issues Goodbye?
Concerns over property rights and drought were central to Wednesday’s hearing.
Chris Brown, executive director of Powering Up Wyoming, referenced recent news about drought causing massive selloffs of cattle in the state.
“This project would provide 30 land owners drought-free lease payments,” he said, adding that it would help keep their families in the ranching business.
Dan Kirkbride, one of the 30 landowners partnering with NextEra, brought up last week’s staggering cattle sale at the Torrington Livestock Market.
“Despite the rain on Monday, we’ll probably sell half of our 2026 crop,” he told commissioners.
Leasing land to energy giant NextEra will provide a decent check for the ranch for times like these, he said.
“Turbines have their place,” he added.
Platte County landowner Cindy DeLancey, who voiced approval of the project, said drought conditions have made it impossible to grow hay, and buying it is getting more expensive.
“Being in agriculture is hard,” she said. “Landowners know what is best for their land.”
Still In Opposition
Wendy Volk, whose family’s historic ranch is south of Chugwater and not within the project zone, voiced concern over major energy projects being increasingly connected but never reviewed cumulatively.
Scott Harmon, who owns property within a mile of the project, shared doubts that wind and solar could be viable energy sources for the main grid. He also cited concerns over potential health and safety risks.
“On the surface it looks like you’re ignoring the facts in lieu of a big payment,” he told commissioners.
John Voight manages Centennial Ranch near Chugwater. He said he used to be a strong advocate for wind energy, but his mind has changed over the years.
“I think we’re focused too much on money and not enough about property rights,” he said Wednesday. “Our rights end where our neighbor’s chin begins … Participating neighbors to this project are taking a lot of hits to their chins.”
For Future Generations
Through tears, DeLancey spoke about the potential opportunity the project could bring to the county she calls home.
“As much as we would love our children to stay on the ranch, they don’t want to,” she said. “They feel that Wyoming doesn’t have what our kids today want.
“We love running the ranch as a family. We work really hard on the land.”
Today’s agriculture is about finding other revenue streams and diversifying income, she said.
Chugwater native Brook Brockman said, “I’m coming to you as a 5-year-old little girl who loved to ride her pony. I grew up here. I graduated from here. I left.”
She said she thought Platte County was a dead end. But then, somewhere along the way, something clicked.
“I realized what this county and this community had done to raise me,” she said.
Brockman expressed support for the project, not because she loves it, but “if it’s good for my community then I support it.”
Other Support
Michael Galluzzo was one of the Platte County landowners leasing property to NextEra for the project buildout. He said his family has been excited about wind potential since before they bought the property.
“If people really didn’t want wind turbines they should have bought (the land) the last time it was available for sale,” he said. “We are very excited about NextEra.”
Brown said for Wyoming to remain an energy leader it needs to embrace all available resources. Wyoming has one of the most rigorous industrial siting processes in the nation, and NextEra had to go through 19 state agencies to earn approval.
Phil Ellis, president of Platte County Economic Development Inc. and a rancher south of the project, spoke about major changes that have chiseled the course of history, such as the railroad and the advent of electricity.
“I think it’s time for another big change,” he said.
The Final vote
Wednesday’s vote followed a slew of questions by county commissioners over issues pertaining to decommissioning, road use agreement, and mitigating fire risks from the battery energy storage system.
Commission Chairman Steve Shockley asked if a special condition could be made requiring NextEra to cooperate with the Platte County emergency management coordinator to provide ongoing fire training to first responders and emergency personnel through the duration of the project.
Bianchini said yes, and that doing so was a standard procedure for NextEra.
Shockley also confirmed with company representatives that NextEra would do its due diligence to remove broken turbine blades and other waste “so that those things aren’t just piled up out there for the next 30 years.”
“I don’t want the county to be a salvage operator at the end of this project,” he said.
Bianchini said NextEra is one of the only operators in the power industry that owns and operates its own facilities. He said all waste from the project would be sent to a licensed waste recycling facility.
“We have obligations to our landowners to not let waste pile up on their land,” he said.
Wednesday’s vote marked the third unanimous approval for the project, with the Industrial Siting Division and the Platte County Planning and Zoning Commission also giving approval.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
