In Cheyenne, Wyoming residents and ranchers assembled at the State Capitol to express their opposition to the rapid expansion of wind farms across the state. The ‘Wyoming Wind Wall Rally’ provided a platform for those concerned about the impact of these developments on wildlife, tourism, and local property rights.
Concerns Over Wildlife and Property Rights
Attendees, including ranchers and local landowners, voiced worries about the infringement on property rights and the potential depletion of golden eagle populations. Craig Rucker, CEO of the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow, highlighted the threat to wildlife migration corridors posed by the installation of thousands of additional wind turbines.
Rucker criticized the efficiency of the 600-foot-tall structures, noting they operate only 30%-45% of the time, contradicting their advertised energy output. He expressed surprise at Wyoming’s conservative government supporting such projects.
Economic and Environmental Impacts
Local rancher Steven Hays urged landowners to resist leasing land to out-of-state developers, citing both economic and environmental concerns. He warned of the influence of ‘big money’ from outside the state and called for a stand against these developments.
Ranchers like Kelsey Stephens and Katherine Stevens shared personal stories of how wind farms disrupt the rural lifestyle and raise environmental concerns, such as turbine blades shedding materials onto the soil and potential health effects from infrasound.
Tourism and Local Economy
Rancher Bobby Geese emphasized the conflict between wind development and tourism, Wyoming’s second-largest industry. He shared an anecdote about a hunter who chose not to return to Wyoming due to the proliferation of wind turbines.
Speakers at the rally also raised issues about invasive species like cheatgrass replacing native grasses and the loss of long-term property control through binding easements. The Albany County Conservancy and the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow sponsored the event, highlighting the local and national interest in the issue.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
