Commercial Wind Energy Development in Wyoming - a Guide for Landonwers

By: Parady, K., J. Lovato, J. Wolf, D. Hulme, I. Burke.

Agricultural operations in Wyoming serve as spaces for the production of food and fiber, and are also wildlife habitats, landscapes and spaces that create and accommodate a variety of lifestyles (Taylor 2003). With southern Wyoming’s emergence as an area of premium wind capacity (U.S. Department of Energy 2008), many of these lands are now also potential spaces for utility- scale wind energy development. By entering into lease agreements with commercial developers, landowners have an opportunity to increase and diversify their operational income. Inherent in the new opportunities surrounding the development of these wind resources, however, is a measure of uncertainty about how to proceed with the operational, economic, lifestyle, and legal decisions that follow. This publication is intended to reduce that uncertainty by identifying key issues for landowners to consider prior to entering a wind energy lease agreement.

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