Utility proceeds with big wind investment in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — President Donald Trump’s efforts to roll back coal and climate-change regulations aren’t discouraging a utility from making a $3.5 billion investment in wind energy, the bulk of which will build dozens of new wind turbines in Wyoming, the top coalproducing state.

Rocky Mountain Power is ready to present its detailed wind plan to regulators in Wyoming, Utah and Idaho, utility officials announced Thursday.

The plan includes building new power lines and putting longer blades on existing wind turbines so they can generate electricity in slower winds. But the biggest part will be building new turbines in Wyoming, the top coal-producing state.

Rocky Mountain Power, which serves more than 1 million customers in the three states, plans to seek proposals for new wind turbine projects in Wyoming in the months ahead.

“These investments will provide significant long-term benefits to our customers and bring substantial economic benefits to rural communities where the facilities will be located,” Rocky Mountain Power Chief Executive Officer Cindy Crane said.

The new Wyoming turbines will generate up to 1,270 megawatts. Calculating how many homes that will serve is challenging because the wind doesn’t blow all the time, but a rough estimate is 190,000, said Rocky Mountain Power spokesman David Eskelsen.