US federal regulators expect to issue key rulings by March for the 3GW Chokecherry Sierra Madre (CCSM) wind farm in Wyoming.
The Power Company of Wyoming (PCW) proposes to build the $5bn, 1000-turbine project on a mix of private and public land in Carbon County, including federal land administered by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The BLM said it expects to complete an environmental assessment and issue a decision on a 500-turbine first phase in the first quarter of this year.
PCW also is developing an avian protection plan and eagle conservation plan with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The developer has applied for an “eagle take permit”.
FWS anticipates publishing a draft environmental impact assessment this quarter. The CCSM scheme already has received several state and local permits.
The developer began the federal permit process eight years ago and has been collecting wind data since 2007 at the 220,000-acre site in south-central Wyoming, part of a ranch owned and operated by an affiliate company.
Carbon County commissioners in September unanimously approved a two-year extension to October 2017 for a conditional use construction permit.
PCW proposes to build the project in two 500-turbine phases with construction spanning about eight years. Work is slated to start in 2016.
The proponent aims to export electricity to utility customers in California, Arizona and Nevada, states that have renewable portfolio standards.
PCW is owned by the Anschutz Corp, a Denver-based privately held company.
Image: Morgue File
