Chuck Gray, Curt Meier Spar Over Renewing 50-Year Wind Leases In Carbon County

CHEYENNE — The State Board of Land Commissioners approved two 50-year lease extensions for operating wind farms in Carbon County, but not before Secretary of State Chuck Gray and State Treasurer Curt Meier sparred over the merits of wind energy.

Each project is 640 acres and had been operating under a 25-year lease before the board voted 3-2 Thursday to extend both of them.

Meier, Gov. Mark Gordon, and State Auditor Kristi Racines voted yes.

Gray and Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder voted no.

Gray has been a long-time opponent of wind energy, and said he agrees with President Donald Trump that it’s not reliable when compared to other forms of energy like oil and gas. He asserted that pursuing these projects goes against the fiduciary responsibilities of the board.

“President Trump has been doing great work and has been clear on this, we're not going to have these wind leases in this country … we should not have this wind, this woke wind in the United States,” Gray said.

But Meier said not extending the wind leases gives competitive advantages to China and other countries, especially when considering the need for power for technological advances nationwide. And the amount of energy the wind farms in the area could eventually generate is substantial, he added. 

“I'll put it in terms that I think everybody in the audience should be able to understand,” said Meier, adding that, “51.8 gigawatts is the equivalent of 30 Laramie River Power Stations.”

Gray, Meier Spar 

Gray and Meier clashed multiple times during Thursday’s meeting, debating not the leases specifically but whether wind energy is something Wyoming should continue to pursue.

Meier said China has installed wind farms this year that are expected to produce over 50 gigawatts of power annually, and that Wyoming should consider all forms of energy to compete with them and other countries.

“We’re in a war where the bullets are electrons, and if we’re basically going to turn away from implementing the computing needs we need in this country … then I don’t want to unilaterally say, ‘It’s not worth it,’” he said. 

Gray countered, saying China is leaning more on coal and other forms of energy, and selling wind-powered projects versus using them itself.

“China sells us these things, and they don’t put any of them up,” Gray said. “They put up more coal-fired powered plants, and they don’t use Wyoming coal … President Trump notes this, that they’re not going all in on this woke wind.”

Degenfelder said she voted no on both lease renewals because she believes 50 years is too long of an extension.

Racines voted yes because not renewing the leases would create a “donut” situation where some wind farms in the area are generating revenue, but not all the ones originally established. 

Governor’s Input

Gov. Mark Gordon, the deciding vote in both wind lease renewals, told Cowboy State Daily Thursday that voting against the lease renewals doesn’t stop the project, but just removes them from state land.

That means less revenue for the state, the governor said. 

“There’s money that comes in to support schools,” he said. “That is in our constitution, that’s our obligation.” 

Looking At The Leases 

In both cases, PacifiCorp, an Oregon-based corporation with several wind farms throughout the western United States, was the company asking for the lease extensions. 

Each project is located on the eastern side of Carbon County, and the State Board of Land Commissioners initially granted the leases for each in February and June of 2000, although PacifiCorp was not yet involved at that point, according to board documents.

Since both wind farm leases were approved, they have generated over $1.1 billion in state revenue. Both projects are part of larger operations that produce roughly 200 megawatts of energy annually, the documents say.

The one lease would run through Feb. 1, 2075 and the other would end June 1, 2075.

Lincoln County’s Sewer Project Money

In another matter Thursday, the board approved roughly $4 million for Lincoln County to increase its sewer capacity – something that is needed as hundreds of new residents are expected in the coming years due to a planned nuclear project, residents and commissioners said.

TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company supported by Bill Gates, is planning a 345-megawatt Natrium reactor, which will be constructed near the Naughton coal-fired power plant in Lincoln County.

The Wyoming Business Council told commissioners Thursday that the county and other partners had originally wanted about $2.9 million for the project, but that they recommended $4 million because of how much Lincoln County needs the additional sewage capacity. 

Kent Connelly, chair of the Lincoln County Commission, said Thursday that there is a need for increased sewage due to the expected increase in population. The nuclear plant is the number one thing he’s asked about from constituents, he said. And they’re supportive of the sewage project, he added --- which he illustrated via a pun:

“To say we have an uproar over a crappy subject is an understatement.”

After the vote, Gordon told Cowboy State Daily that the increased sewage capacity is not only needed because of the nuclear project.

“It is a contributor for why they have to have it, but one of the problems is they don’t have adequate [sewage] supply for today,” the governor said. “We’ve talked about a lot about more housing, but housing has to rest on a foundation of sewer, water, electric infrastructure.”

Steve Bohnel can be reached at steve@cowboystatedaily.com.