© 2024 Wyoming Public Media
800-729-5897 | 307-766-4240
Wyoming Public Media is a service of the University of Wyoming
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Transmission & Streaming Disruptions

Sweetwater Solar Project Takes A Step Forward

Sweetwater Solar Energy Project Project Overview
Bureau of Land Management

A potential solar energy project in southwest Wyoming obtained a permit last week moving it a step closer to construction. The Sweetwater Solar Energy Project, to be located near Green River, would be the largest the state’s ever seen, providing 80 megawatts of generating capacity to the electrical grid. That’s enough to power almost 12,000 homes each year, according to a project description given to the Bureau of Land Management.

Sweetwater County commissioners unanimously voted to support the project. It would be built on approximately 703 acres with 638 of them on federal land. Deborah Reyes, a senior director of development for 174 Power Global, the company behind Sweetwater Solar, said the approved permit delved into how wildlife and other factors might be impacted.

"It’s very heavy on wildlife studies, mitigation during construction. There's specific attention being paid to birds and bats as well as some of the native big animals such as bighorn sheep and pronghorn… there’s also an economic study,” she said.

The federal permit application looks very similar. Even if that was granted tomorrow, Reyes said construction would still have to wait until the summer.

"Our permits support [a] construction window that starts July 1st and then it runs through the middle of November with the potential of two week extensions,” and Reyes said, "that depends heavily on the wildlife activity in that area."

The project has been in motion for more than three years. The site in Sweetwater County was chosen due to its open space and proximity to power-hungry energy operations. 174 Power Global expects an approved federal permit in June. That would allow construction to begin on July 1st with an end date before 2019.

Before Wyoming, Cooper McKim has reported for NPR stations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. He's reported breaking news segments and features for several national NPR news programs. Cooper is the host of the limited podcast series Carbon Valley. Cooper studied Environmental Policy and Music. He's an avid jazz piano player, backpacker, and podcast listener.
Related Content