The Northern Laramie Range Alliance announced it will establish a tax-exempt corporation to buy up state leases in order to prevent the development of wind energy.

The effort is aimed at "preserving the agricultural, historic, recreational and natural heritage of central Wyoming's Northern Laramie Range," according to the alliance.

Bret Frye, Kenneth Lay, Sharon Rodeman and Diemer True, members of the alliance's steering committee, will serve as directors of the new corporation.

Asked whether the fund would also be used to block oil and natural gas development in addition to wind energy, Rodeman said, "Well, yes."

"We are looking at wind -- large wind development. I think this is going to be a good effort to preserve those mountain lands for the public," Rodeman said.

Rodeman said the alliance eventually wants to make funds available for private landowners who forego developing commercial-scale wind energy development on their lands.