Commissioners deny conditional use permit for wind farm
Unita County Herald|Karl Ritzman|August 7, 2009
The Uinta County Commissioners voted unanimously to deny two conditional use permits that would have allowed an additional 120 wind turbines on Bridger Butte. Bridger Butte Wind Power and Bridger Butte Wind Power II, being run by Tasco Engineering, wanted to add the turbines in the general area of Bigelow Road, and extending southward from the current project.
The Uinta County Commissioners voted unanimously to deny two conditional use permits that would have allowed an additional 120 wind turbines on Bridger Butte. Bridger Butte Wind Power and Bridger Butte Wind Power II, being run by Tasco Engineering, wanted to add the turbines in the general area of Bigelow Road, and extending southward from the current project.
The Uinta County Commissioners voted unanimously to deny two conditional use permits that would have allowed an additional 120 wind turbines on Bridger Butte.
Bridger Butte Wind Power and Bridger Butte Wind Power II, being run by Tasco Engineering, wanted to add the turbines in the general area of Bigelow Road, and extending southward from the current project.
Gary Tassainer of Tasco Engineering said if they got the conditional use permit, they would do everything required by the industrial siting committee, which included numerous environmental studies.
Rick Frandsen of Tasco Engineering told the commissioners that throughout the life of the project it was projected the county would receive over $20.6 million in property tax …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]The Uinta County Commissioners voted unanimously to deny two conditional use permits that would have allowed an additional 120 wind turbines on Bridger Butte.
Bridger Butte Wind Power and Bridger Butte Wind Power II, being run by Tasco Engineering, wanted to add the turbines in the general area of Bigelow Road, and extending southward from the current project.
Gary Tassainer of Tasco Engineering said if they got the conditional use permit, they would do everything required by the industrial siting committee, which included numerous environmental studies.
Rick Frandsen of Tasco Engineering told the commissioners that throughout the life of the project it was projected the county would receive over $20.6 million in property tax revenues.
Commission chairman Mick Powers said the coalition of local governments was spending a lot of time and money investigating what was happening to the sage grouse. The new project would put turbines within a mile and a half of a core sage grouse area.
"I want to see the end results of the studies," Commissioner Bob Stoddard said. "I'd like to feel comfortable that everything has been done that can be possibly done."