Sept. 4, 2012 – Power Company of Wyoming LLC is developing the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project located in Carbon County, Wyoming. Following the release of a Final Environmental Impact Statement from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in July, PCW is now pursuing a permit from the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council to construct, operate and decommission the proposed wind project.

In connection with this process, the Wyoming Industrial Siting Division has identified a geographical area called the “study area,” which includes local governments in the vicinity of the project (Carbon County, Sweetwater County, Albany County, Natrona County). PCW has scheduled seven additional meetings to provide local governments and the public in the study area with further opportunities to obtain more information about the wind project, ask questions and provide comments for PCW’s consideration.

PCW will host two community open houses with a free barbecue dinner in Carbon County on Sept. 18 in Rawlins at The Depot, and on Sept. 19 in Saratoga at the Platte Valley Community Center. Both events will be 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

In addition, PCW representatives will be available at the following times and locations:

• 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sept. 9, LSRV Community Center (Higher Ed),
  360 Whippoorwill, Baggs.
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sept. 10, Medicine Bow Community Hall, Medicine Bow.
• 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sept. 10, Hilton Garden Inn, Laramie.
• 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sept. 24, Homewood Suites, Rock Springs.
• 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sept. 25, Hilton Garden Inn, Casper.

The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project is an approximately 2,500 megawatt (1,000 turbines) wind energy generation facility to be built on a 320,000-acre ranch south of Rawlins and Sinclair and northwest of Saratoga. The ranch is privately owned and operated by The Overland Trail Cattle Company LLC. Because of each wind turbine’s compact footprint, the project will permanently use less than 2,000 acres of the 320,000-acre ranch, while generating permanent jobs and other economic benefits for Wyoming. PCW also is developing the project in a responsible way that avoids, minimizes and mitigates potential impacts to wildlife and the environment, including developing a variety of science-based conservation measures and plans.

Since the wind project’s inception, the BLM held four public scoping open houses in August 2008; PCW held two community open houses with dinner in March 2010; and the BLM held two Draft EIS open houses in August 2011. PCW representatives also have discussed the project at more than two dozen county, municipal and special district public meetings.

For more information about PCW and the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project, including its recent White House designation as a “nationally and regionally significant wind energy project,” visit www.powercompanyofwyoming.com.

To review the BLM’s Environmental Impact Statement about the project, visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/wyoming/ccsm.

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