Reported by Staff

CHEYENNE — Late last week wind industry groups Interwest Energy Alliance, American Wind Energy Association and Renewable Northwest Project sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar requesting the Interior Department review Wyoming’s sage grouse protection policy.

This comes in the wake of the state’s new position against building wind farms in important habitat areas for the birds. Salazar was reviewing the letter, according to press secretary Kendra Berkoff.

Recent comments made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wyoming field office prompted the developers’ letter to Salazar. The office told the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that turbines shouldn’t be allowed in critical habitat - known as core areas - unless developers demonstrate they can be built with no impact on the birds.

Developers contend that the state’s position could put an abrupt halt to wind energy projects in the core areas of sage grouse, and could negatively impact renewable energy development throughout the western U.S.

Last August, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal issued an executive order that essentially limited wind development in sage grouse core areas. With a host of pending wind projects in the core areas, the state sought clarification from the Fish and Wildlife Service last week.

State and industry officials are awaiting a Federal decision on whether the birds should be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Such a move would surely put a major roadblock up for wind development in sage grouse habitat. A decision is expected in May.