Campbell County now has zoning regulations for wind farms, but the rules may not apply to the company planning to build the first wind
in the county.

By Steve  McManamen/Gillete News Record

After postponing a vote twice to further discuss the ordinance with Third Planet Windpower, the County Commission voted to pass emergency wind zoning regulations last week in a 4-1 to one vote.

Third Planet does not like the bonding requirement stipulated in the rules — the financial assurance for decommissioning and reclamation if the company abandons the wind farm.

The new county rules require an upfront payment of the bond like other energy industries in Campbell County have to pay. Third Planet says its wind farm will be in place for a minimum of 25 years and postponing the bond for 15 years is similar to requirements in other areas of Wyoming.

Commissioner Amir Sancher voted against the new rules because he thought it would give the impression Campbell County is “anti-alternative energy.”

“I want to encourage the alternative energy, but at the same time protect the landowner, the county and everyone else,” Sancher said.

Sancher said he would have liked the wind farm developers speak with him personally about the company’s financial strength and the bond prior to a vote on new rules. He didn’t think there had been enough communication between the County Commission and the developer before the vote.

The other commissioners agreed there was ample discussion with the company about all of the issues and that was the reason for the two previous delays in the vote, which postponed the new rules about a month.

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