Critics Oppose Wyoming Hydroelectric Project, Pointing to Climate-Driven Drought Crisis
Lawmakers cited transparency gaps and wildlife risks as the committee voted to send a letter of concern to federal regulators and rPlus Hydro.
- On Thursday, Wyoming's Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee voted unanimously to send a letter of concern to federal regulators and rPlus Hydro, documenting the developer's lack of communication with local governments regarding the 972-megawatt Seminoe Pumped Storage Project.
- Utah-Based rPlus Hydro proposes an open-loop facility pumping 13,400 acre-feet of water from Seminoe Reservoir into a new 10,800-acre-foot upper reservoir, but opponents argue the design threatens the Miracle Mile trout fishery and overlaps critical winter habitat for the Ferris-Seminoe bighorn sheep herd.
- Trout Unlimited's Patrick Harrington criticized the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's permitting review for relying on outdated five-year modeling that ignored severe drought, noting that 99.6% of 282 submitted comments opposed the project due to inaccurate assumptions from the developer.
- Casper Mayor Ray Pacheco expressed frustration that the company never met with city leaders despite Casper's reliance on the North Platte River for drinking water and recreation-driven tourism, while Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said the department's wildlife concerns remain unaddressed.
- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will issue its final environmental impact statement in June, with the federal Bureau of Land Management potentially requesting amendments if natural resource protections prove inadequate; Wyoming Game and Fish and the state's Industrial Siting Council retain final approval authority.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Associated Press News
Critics oppose Wyoming hydroelectric project, pointing to climate-driven drought crisis
A proposed pumped-water electricity storage facility at Seminoe Reservoir could decimate the prized Miracle Mile trout fishery on the North Platte River and jeopardize a bighorn sheep herd that wildlife officials rely on to support the species’ populations in other areas, critics of the $4 billion p
Oil City News
Cap City NewsWyoming lawmakers hear, raise concerns over $3B Seminoe Reservoir energy project
CASPER, Wyo. — State lawmakers raised concerns about a proposed $3 billion energy project at Seminoe Reservoir on Thursday, pointing to a lack of transparency from the developer and potential harm to the North Platte River ecosystem. Utah-based developer rPlus Hydro is proposing the 972-megawatt Seminoe Pumped Storage Project that would operate like a massive, water-powered battery. The open-loop facility would pump up to 13,400 acre-feet of wat…
Critics Say Seminoe Project Threatens Miracle Mile Trout Fishery, Casper's Water
Critics told legislators Thursday that a proposed 972-megawatt power project at Seminoe Reservoir in Carbon County could threaten Wyoming’s legendary Miracle Mile trout fishery. It also could impact Casper’s water supply, they said.
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