September 23, 2021 Meeting Summary

 

Rotarian of the Week: Steve Morgan nominated Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren for room setup; Todd Pearson nominated Kerry Greaser for the birth of his grandchild.   

 

Songs: I’d Like to Teach the World To Sing

 

 

Introduction: Evelyn Edson

 

ConnectGen is a wind, solar, and energy storage product provider that has been in operation for 35 years. This is the company working on the Rail Tie Wind Project, located in southeastern Albany County off of 287. It is just north of the Wyoming-Colorado border.

 

The development project is 26,000 acres for a wind farm. The project is expected to be fully operational by 2024.

 

This is a large project, expected to produce 500 megawatts of wind power with the turbines. This area was picked because it has a high amount of wind and a current transmission line already installed that is being underutilized. It also avoids sensitive environmental areas in Wyoming.

 

The land is controlled by the land owners. There are eight private owners and some Wyoming state land. It is mostly used for cattle ranching.

 

There are several steps before the wind project can be complete. First, ConnectGen has to work on outreach to coordinate with different agencies including environmental NGOs and community organizations.

 

Then the group is working on a wind analysis report that they acquired from the previous developer. This includes the met tower and the remote-sensing equipment being installed and electrical studies.

 

For environmental issues, there are baseline avian and bat surveys, along with research into wetland delineations. A cultural resource study is underway.

 

The project will need regulatory approval from the Federal NEAA review, a state council, and the county commissioners. The state council and county commissioners have approved the project, and it is waiting on the federal review.

 

It is unique to also need federal approval for a project. This is because the transmission line is federally-owned.

 

The final engineering will include turbine procurement, road use agreements, and road maintenance. 

 

The project expects to be used for 15-20 years. The economic benefits are $27 million in additional tax revenue during construction, and then $14.6 to Albany County during operations. This includes $3.3 million to Albany County each year. Construction will hire 120 workers, and then 23 full-time workers will be based on Albany County.

 

Response: Steve Morgan

 

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

•FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

•SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

•THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

•FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service

 

Of the things we think, say, or do

•Is it the Truth?

•Is it Fair?

•Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?

•Will it be Beneficial to All Concerned?

 

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Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org