A $500 million solar project expected to generate an estimated $157 million in property tax revenue for Converse County is seeking to spin off 409 acres of its planned site for a natural gas power plant.
The request marks a significant shift for the Dutchman Solar and Storage Project north of Glenrock, which prompted Converse County commissioners this week to ask the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council to take another look at the project before construction moves forward.
A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2 in Cheyenne, Converse County Commissioner Trent Kaufman told Cowboy State Daily.
The Dutchman project would be Wyoming's second-largest solar development, behind the giant $1.2 Enbridge Cowboy Solar Project in Laramie County. Plans call for 1.2 million solar panels to produce more than 770 megawatts of power when it reaches full build-out.
Market Opportunity
According to Scott Bolton, a spokesperson for Florida-based BrightNight LLC, the company behind the Dutchman Solar Project, the proposed gas-fired facility would be developed by a BrightNight subsidiary if it receives the required state and local approvals.
"The project came about because of a market opportunity for gas generation identified by BrightNight, and we are excited about the opportunity for investment and new jobs in Wyoming," Bolton told Cowboy State Daily in an email.
The proposed Deer Creek Natural Gas Generation Project would produce an estimated 255 megawatts of electricity.
BrightNight spokesman Donald Millar told county commissioners that the solar project and gas plant are separate developments.
"If the 409 acres are released, it will allow BrightNight to study the development and permitting of a natural gas generating facility while at the same time maintain the construction and operation of the Dutchman Solar and Storage project," Bolton said.
New Proposal Raises New Questions
While the request would reduce the footprint of the solar project, county officials say it remains unclear whether it would also reduce the amount of electricity the solar facility is expected to produce.
"The question we asked, and they weren't certain of, is if the power generation will decrease," Kaufman said.
Bolton also did not answer Cowboy State Daily's question about whether the smaller project would generate less electricity.
Kaufman said his biggest question centers on the proposed natural gas plant's water needs.
"My big concern is if the power generation facility would use water," he said. "And if so, where is that water going to come from?"
He emphasized that the gas plant remains in the earliest stages of planning and that a lot that has to happen before those questions can be answered.
"It's extremely preliminary," Kaufman said.
Delayed Construction
The Dutchman Solar Project calls for a 500-megawatt solar facility on approximately 4,738 acres of private ranchland owned by sheep producer Casey Tillard along the North Platte River north of Glenrock. BrightNight has promoted the project as an example of "agrivoltaics," with solar panels installed high enough to allow sheep to continue grazing.
Tillard did not respond to Cowboy State Daily's requests for comment before publication.
Construction had been expected to begin this summer. However, Converse County Commissioner Rick Grant said the timeline has been delayed because BrightNight has not yet finalized how the project will connect to the electrical grid or identified the ultimate purchaser for its power.
Bolton said construction is now expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027, with completion anticipated in 2029.
He did not respond to questions about whether the company has secured a power purchaser or finalized its transmission plans.
Clearing Up Rumors
Kaufman said he took to social media before the county's public hearing this week to counter speculation about what was being proposed.
Rumors had circulated that the county was considering a data center or a wind energy project, he said.
Public hearings are already listed on the county's online meeting agendas, but Kaufman said he wanted to make sure residents had accurate information before misinformation spread further.
"I wanted to make a special effort so the rumor mill would stop and facts would fill in the void," he said.
The hearing drew a strong turnout, he added, with many residents still trying to understand what the proposal could mean for the area.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
