How will the project proceed?

Power Company of Wyoming LLC has and continues to collect wind data to make the best use of the project area’s high-quality wind resources. Using meteorological towers, PCW has gathered wind data since June 2007.

PCW has obtained the main necessary state and county authorizations for the CCSM Project. Since, however, the project is partially located on federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, PCW applied for rights-of-way for wind energy development. BLM prepared a project-wide Environmental Impact Statement to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, in coordination with other state and local government agencies. (To learn more about the NEPA process, check out A Citizen's Guide to the NEPA (PDF).) Subsequent federal environmental analysis of the specific elements of Phase I development and Phase II development, tiered to the EIS, was completed from 2013-2019. PCW obtained the BLM right-of-way grant(s) and notice(s) to proceed on specific project elements before construction commenced on those elements. (See also BLM NEPA history.)

CCSM Project construction commenced in September 2016. Operation is estimated to commence by 2029.

Here are the milestones achieved since development began in 2006.

Permitting/Development Timeline Summary

Nov. 16, 2006 Rights-of-way applications filed with BLM for wind energy site testing and monitoring in the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre areas.
June 14-15, 2007 BLM issued rights-of-way grants, and the initial meteorological towers were erected.
Jan. 30, 2008 PCW filed rights-of-way application with BLM for wind energy development. BLM and PCW agreed that analyzing the proposed wind energy project in an Environmental Impact Statement was appropriate.
July 25, 2008 BLM published a Federal Register Notice of Intent to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement.
August 2008 BLM conducted public scoping.
2008-2011 BLM conducting studies and surveys; reviewing and developing alternatives; preparing Draft EIS.
July 22, 2011 BLM published a Federal Register Notice of Availability to announce the Draft EIS.
July 3, 2012 BLM published a Federal Register Notice of Availability to announce the Final EIS
Oct. 2, 2012 Carbon County Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit.
Oct. 9, 2012 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed the Record of Decision, authorizing the BLM to proceed with site-specific environmental analysis. BLM published a Federal Register Notice of Availability on Oct. 16.
Dec. 6, 2012 Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners, Office of State Lands and Investments, unanimously approved a wind energy lease with PCW for up to 25 turbines.
September 2013 BLM conducted public scoping for Site-Specific Environmental Assessment 1, addressing the Phase 1 Haul Road and Facilities, West Sinclair Rail Facility and Road Rock Quarry.
December 2013 BLM conducted public scoping for Site-Specific Environmental Assessment 2, addressing the Phase 1 Wind Turbine Development of 500 turbines.
Dec. 4, 2013 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the Phase I eagle permit application and conducted public scoping.
July 15, 2014 Carbon County Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit extension.
Aug. 6, 2014 State of Wyoming Industrial Siting Council unanimously approved a permit to construct and operate the wind project. The permit was signed and granted Sept. 12.
Dec. 23, 2014 BLM completed Site-Specific EA1 and issued a Finding of No New Significant Impact. U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Janice Schneider signed the Decision Record approving the infrastructure component plans of development.
Sept. 15, 2015 Carbon County Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit extension.
April 29, 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a Federal Register Notice of Availability to announce the Draft EIS for Phase I Eagle Take Permits.
Aug. 25, 2016 BLM issued a right-of-way grant and notice to proceed for infrastructure components.
Sept. 9, 2016 PCW commenced construction on road infrastructure that will provide access to wind turbine facilities and will be critical to operating and maintaining the CCSM Project.
Dec. 9, 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a Federal Register Notice of Availability to announce the Final EIS for Phase I Eagle Take Permits
Jan. 18, 2017 BLM completed Site-Specific EA2 and issued a Finding of No New Significant Impacts. U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Janice Schneider signed the Decision Record approving Phase I Wind Turbine Development.
Jan. 18, 2017 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its Record of Decision approving Phase I Eagle Take Permits. USFWS published a Notice of Availability on Jan. 23.
March 9, 2018 BLM completed a Determination of NEPA Adequacy and issued a Decision Record approving the Phase II Haul Road and Facilities plan of development.
Dec. 2, 2019 BLM completed Site-Specific EA3 and issued a Finding of No New Significant Impacts along with a Decision Record approving Phase II Wind Turbine Development.
Nov. 5, 2021 PCW secured transmission capacity on the TWE Project.
  Project continues construction and environmental compliance activities in alignment with permit requirements and conditions.

Stay informed

E-mail UpdatesJoin our email list to receive periodic updates and meeting notifications.

X/TwitterFollow us on X/Twitter for updates.

Public comment and review opportunities

Since 2008, PCW has shared information during at least 50 publicly noticed public open houses and meetings, including presentations before the Carbon County Commission, Carbon County Planning & Zoning Commission, Carbon County Council of Governments, Rawlins City Council, Saratoga Town Council, Sinclair Town Council, Dixon Town Council, Baggs Town Council, SER Conservation District open houses and board meetings, Carbon County Economic Development Corporation, Sweetwater County Commission.

Specific examples include: