Large-scale wind and solar energy projects proposed across Wyoming are encountering significant local opposition, challenging the expansion of renewable infrastructure in the state. Recent developments in Goshen and Platte counties, where a 450-megawatt (MW) hybrid wind and solar installation is planned across more than 53,000 acres, have ignited strong community pushback.

Project proponents emphasize the economic benefits, including the creation of approximately 300 jobs during construction, an estimated $150 million in new tax revenue, and $250 million in payments to landowners over the project's lifespan. However, local residents and officials express skepticism regarding these benefits outweighing potential drawbacks. Herb Doby, Mayor of Torrington, voiced a preference for traditional gas or coal-fired power plants over extensive solar arrays and wind turbines, reflecting a sentiment among some community members.

Further west, two other substantial wind projects are facing similar resistance. The Sidewinder H2 wind farm, slated for 120,110 acres ten miles west of Lusk, includes a significant portion of state-owned land. Concurrently, the Pronghorn H2 project proposes erecting 45 turbines over 46,000 acres east of Casper, with 30 percent of the land also state-owned. These projects, detailed previously by The Fence Post, have fueled local rifts.

Opposition stems from concerns over the extensive land footprint, which critics argue consumes prime farm and pastureland. Visual impact, potential devaluation of adjacent properties, and uncertainties surrounding the long-term environmental and financial liabilities of these installations are also frequently cited. A rancher whose land borders the Pronghorn H2 project has filed a lawsuit against the Office of State Lands and Investment board, alleging procedural irregularities in the lease approval process.

Questions persist regarding the decommissioning of facilities, particularly the cost and responsibility for recycling or disposing of damaged turbines and panels should a project developer face financial insolvency. While Wyoming's abundant wind and solar resources make it an attractive location for renewable energy development, the escalating local resistance underscores the complex challenges of balancing energy transition goals with community interests and land stewardship in rural areas. The outcomes of these disputes will likely set precedents for future renewable energy project siting across the American West.