The Medicine Bow Conservation District and the Hanna Historical Society asked Horizon Wind Energy not to harm natural or cultural resources when building its 154-turbine wind project.

Ken Besel, representing both the conservation district and the historical society, asked Horizon to avoid the historic Carbon Cemetery, sage grouse strutting grounds, archaeological sites, elk habitat and other places of significance in the proposed project area.

Nate Sandvig of Horizon said the project area is located between Hanna and Elk Mountain and south of U.S. Highway 30 in the Simpson Ridge area.

Besel said that's prime grouse habitat, thanks to area ranchers' work to improve habitat. Both ranchers and the conservation district don't want to see sage grouse listed as a threatened or endangered species, he said.

Besel said he worried that it appeared a few project facilities might be located in or adjacent to grouse leks.

''This is one of the highest-density sage grouse areas,'' he said.

Sandvig said all turbine towers and other aboveground portions of the project will be located at least six-tenths of a mile away from grouse strutting grounds, and all cultural resource sites are to be avoided.

''Right now, there's no scientific evidence that wind farms adversely affect sage grouse,'' he said, but ''that's a hot issue.''

Carbon County Commissioner Terry Weickum said he's ''seen some pretty compelling information that convinced me sage grouse don't let anything live above them.''

Grouse tend to move away from tall structures where their predators can perch, Weickum said.

Arlo Corwin of Horizon said the project is in the planning stages, so turbines and power substations can be moved if needed to protect natural and cultural resources.

He said the company has installed about 2,000 megawatts of wind turbines around the country and has ''a petty good track record.''

Corwin said the company has worked with states, Indian tribes and other entities to identify cultural sites in the Pacific Northwest.

Horizon plans to build a road around the cemetery and avoid identified historic and Native American cultural sites or mitigate damage.

Hanna historian Nancy Anderson asked if Horizon would avoid the remaining traces of the original Lincoln Highway, which runs through the project area, usually near U.S. 30.

Sandvig wasn't aware of the historic highway, but said he would find out more about it. He promised to avoid traces of the original Transcontinental Railroad built in the same general area as the highway.