​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 6, 2020

CONTACT: Eric Barendsen, mediarelations@wapa.gov, 720-962-7411

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Western Area Power Administration has scheduled two public scoping meetings Jan. 14 in Laramie, Wyoming, to describe the proposed Rail Tie Wind Project, identify the issues and environmental resources most important to the public and answer questions. 

Public meeting details

• Date: Jan. 14

• Meeting 1: 9 a.m.-noon

• Meeting 2: 5-8 p.m.

• Location: Hilton Garden Inn Laramie

                 2229 Grand Ave.

                 Laramie, WY  82070

There will be a project presentation at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 

WAPA is evaluating an interconnection request submitted by ConnectGen Albany County LLC (ConnectGen) to connect the Rail Tie Wind Project to WAPA’s existing Ault-Craig 345-kilovolt line in Albany County, Wyoming.

Because this project involves an action by the federal government, WAPA will prepare an environmental impact statement for the interconnection request and proposed wind project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The public meetings constitute part of a 30-day scoping process that began with a notice of intent published Dec. 30 in the Federal Register and ends Jan. 31. 

During the scoping process, the public, interested parties and other agencies are invited to provide input on which issues and resources are important and deserve greater analysis in the EIS and which are of lesser importance. 

In addition to submitting comments at the public meetings, the public may also submit comments on the scope of the proposed project through Jan. 31 to the point of contact listed on the project website. 

The proposed Rail Tie Wind Project, which would be owned by ConnectGen, would include up to 151 wind turbines with a generating capacity of up to 504 megawatts. The wind project would be located on an approximately 26,000-acre site roughly centered on the town of Tie Siding and bisected by U.S. Highway 287. 

In addition to the turbines, the proposed project would include access roads, collection lines, substations, control buildings, meteorological towers and other related infrastructure. If WAPA decides to approve the interconnection request after the environmental process is complete, WAPA would construct, own, operate and maintain a connection with the existing transmission line and a switchyard to control power flow onto the existing line. More information is available on WAPA’s project website.

Learn more about the NEPA process at the Department of Energy website. 

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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 25,000 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable power from 57​​ federal hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and International Boundary and Water Commission in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy. Follow us on Twitter @WesternAreaPowr, or visit the website at www.wapa.gov.   

Last modified on September 12th, 2023