The city of Cheyenne stands to make millions of dollars by leasing pastureland at the Belvoir Ranch to a wind energy company. The Morley Companies of Jackson Hole wants to build a $750 million wind farm at the city-owned Belvoir Ranch, which is six miles west of town.

The company plans to lease 12,000 acres at the Belvoir Ranch and construct 150 wind towers. The project also could be the first wind/natural gas combination facility in the country.

Over the 35-year lease period, which was discussed Tuesday during a Cheyenne City Council work session, the city could get $72 million in royalties if the power was sold to Colorado. MORE …