[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6284762,"mediaKeyId","2576831-ae89665feacad0fdbada07a8f323fdd0","parentId",2576831,"title","NextEra presents Jackalope Wind project: developers outline 600 MW plan and local economic benefits","audioSeconds",863,"startMs",2633000,"endMs",3496000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576831-ae89665feacad0fdbada07a8f323fdd0&start=2633&end=3496","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576831-ae89665feacad0fdbada07a8f323fdd0/thumbnail_2633000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6284762/Sweetwater-County/Wyoming/NextEra-presents-Jackalope-Wind-project-developers-outline-600-MW-plan-and-local-economic-benefits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284762-58191ec19cf4f572e04514f98b49c079/orig.mp4?Expires=1773253112&Signature=SpbUYzBXe5UAJRKXtbCGqAeOjwfpIgPGDctROxWKuftTsz-WRFyQJbvCRwsw9DKm8pjSppQKQIwB7jXUxqT5yxRVHrxkiPWqpBuBTC90MmKrH7dIl-MtFqJvJIlbEEB9Mv87MAuJpyIipmleiKzZjPgF1iDTQZhFI5-bX8FXZ4TapsMrlnEkwgte~6R110Lab50lEhbB4CIeBMtw3T-zvqhXdAJgOTw2tlo66Zwhxvo7-m0zCATUN6wsuEPC9m9q-pdGvd-A7dOsYVDxi6lpTiOHeufqE~VnlPleWgvu45kMNtA~d2gCS3kTXBUynbr6ny2qgH5j6dIxj~IPHRKgBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-12T15:56:07Z","article","NextEra Energy’s development team presented the Jackalope Wind Project to the Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission, describing a proposed 600-megawatt wind farm, an estimated $1 billion-plus capital investment, and projected local economic benefits including construction payroll and long-term property-tax revenue.

Glenn Schober, lead developer for the Jackalope Wind Project, said the proposal is a 600-megawatt facility using GE turbines and would include roughly 213 turbines within an initial project boundary of about 149,000 acres; the expected permanent project footprint after construction is about 5,000 acres. He said the company has contracted sale of the project’s energy to Idaho Power Company and holds an interconnection agreement to tie into the Jim Bridger substation.

Schober gave economic estimates the company provided to the county: peak construction employment of about 425 workers, an average of about 273 workers across the 15-month construction window, and approximately 18 permanent local jobs for operations and maintenance. Using current mill levies and the project assumptions, the company estimated roughly $184 million in ad valorem taxes for the county over the life of the project, about $25 million in sales-and-use tax revenue during construction, and approximately $39 million over the project life from the wind-generation excise tax (which accrues starting in year four after a three-year exemption), producing a combined county revenue estimate of roughly $248 million. Schober also said the Industrial Siting Council process could make approximately $15 million in impact-assistance funds available to affected counties.

Schober said the company selected Sweetwater County because the site meets the four primary development criteria: available transmission capacity (Jim Bridger substation and expanding transmission corridors), a market/demand for energy (project energy already sold), high wind resource, and sufficient buildable land. He said the nearest populated place to turbines would be Wamsutter at about 16 miles away; project siting seeks to avoid sage-grouse core areas, areas of critical environmental concern, and big-game crucial ranges and follows U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service buffer recommendations for occupied raptor nests.

On process, Schober said NextEra will submit a county permit application and then an Industrial Siting Act (ISA) application; the company is also pursuing a BLM NEPA process. He described a tentative schedule that includes county application submission in the coming month, an ISA application shortly after and a draft EIS from the BLM toward the end of the year; the company noted a record of decision is currently scheduled for April 2026 and that construction could begin after required approvals and permitting. Commissioners asked about turbine-blade recycling; Schober said industry-level recycling solutions exist but are not yet scaled to accommodate all decommissioned blades and that the company is working with recycling start-ups. He said turbines are designed for about 35 years of operation.

Commissioners asked how the project will coordinate with mineral owners across checkerboard ownership; Schober said the developer will negotiate accommodation agreements with mineral-rights owners to coordinate offsets and operations. Schober closed by saying NextEra expects to file permit materials and will include visual analyses, biological and cultural surveys, and 47 key observation points chosen in coordination with county staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","NextEra Energy representatives briefed the Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission on the Jackalope Wind Project, a proposed 600 MW wind development that would require BLM and industrial-siting permits and is projected to generate substantial local tax revenue and a large temporary construction workforce.","taxTitle","Sweetwater County, Wyoming","taxId",28116,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6284766,"Commission approves variance for large Maverick sign near interstate with conditions",634,1931000,2565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576831-ae89665feacad0fdbada07a8f323fdd0&start=1931&end=2565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576831-ae89665feacad0fdbada07a8f323fdd0/thumbnail_1931000.jpg","/articles/6284766/Sweetwater-County/Wyoming/Commission-approves-variance-for-large-Maverick-sign-near-interstate-with-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284766-a145b3a61f668e0014cbe58b13ed14c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773253112&Signature=WGh2R2-8LYS64EmJqTUZX8peZFatkMNqQd-yTXWNKDTx-yj1JGJm3p-MveP1hAjXTCbz~pc1qCPyv7M-BJjm3m--5sYX0t2BVo8gPXPfl9emZmcdebGqzBJfoEqaebodjyvRT4vWXjpAMAHnvBLy2tGPnhJMbi0OD1-jZWnRxImdTKAerymVqOc-o-fFQhhsqaVlUNewgdvLhQUepl85oD0KQYSjbippXZFPxQS-rL8rM4TE-qrzaVfgNXTGuaY2rYZ98869r0IkYFCX0efcGEp3zUKNMbFo3vBV598nLxOIB4PObWy7von-gXAhb75ZoC7fmlxwjK8yxf5dI93EgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a signage variance to allow a freestanding Maverick sign that exceeds the county’s square-foot limit, saying a taller, more visible sign could improve driver safety on the nearby high-speed corridor.

County staff summarized the variance request under section 13(f) of the Sweetwater County zoning resolution: the zoning rules set a maximum freestanding sign height of 40 feet and a maximum sign area of 300 square feet. The applicant sought permission for a 25-foot-tall sign with 1,272 square feet of sign area. Staff recommended approval, noting topography and vehicle speeds on the approach make visibility an important safety consideration.

Clint Carver, Maverick’s signage manager, said the company ran legibility studies from the interstate and sized the sign digits to be readable from the off-ramp and approaching travel lanes. Staff said they had received no public or agency objections on the variance and recommended approval with conditions: the property owner must sign the variance permit application, and the variance approval should be contingent on the partial vacation, zone map amendment and final plat approvals for the Maverick Sweetwater Subdivision.

Commission discussion referenced prior variances granted to the Love’s Travel Stop across the street and the commission asked staff to consider whether the sign regulations need review. No members of the public spoke for or against the variance during the hearing.

The commission approved the variance by voice vote, recorded as 4–0. Staff placed usual conditions linking the sign permit to the property-owner signature and the related land-use approvals.","Sweetwater County planning commissioners approved a variance allowing a 25-foot-tall, 1,272-square-foot Maverick freestanding sign (exceeding the county’s 300-square-foot limit) with conditions tying the variance to other approvals and signature from the property owner.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":78,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6284772,"Planning commission approves partial vacation, zone change and final plat for Maverick Sweetwater subdivision",1531,400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576831-ae89665feacad0fdbada07a8f323fdd0&start=400&end=1931","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576831-ae89665feacad0fdbada07a8f323fdd0/thumbnail_400000.jpg","/articles/6284772/Sweetwater-County/Wyoming/Planning-commission-approves-partial-vacation-zone-change-and-final-plat-for-Maverick-Sweetwater-subdivision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284772-f025243bb19456090fc6c1712a6012b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773253112&Signature=krh-1Lr2jSTwcwxnfC2FA1CERCnDiFiUA5qooe7ayJ9Hqd0aBqdw~Rk0FkdfSsA1DaqFJsu-EefLJYqPl4cBaftzJdsDm0Ns8t6dQUFnMmfRkVYwLOvTaMT5HKUvpvlitjjMsXKm2ul8loOenCLLDPV1Gdf6l5kphTBsRUgj1jiyzeYieBV8OfaZGfJcuDolBV2wZxR7SOHa4tIdv1xfztJ6i2tl51ufOEZwXNGKI45aggCfTtcdT0YaeIgM6ID6wqI84mSwosCJWj02Ubkz7QvreAUOSmQuOTh05HAHqgcI2h2dlzqfLBo8zwYLG-g-gZRxKsslbS38dUActBo9DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission approved three related land-use actions to allow a Maverick convenience-store development near the Love's Truck Stop: a partial vacation of the Covered Wagon Park subdivision, a zone map amendment from manufactured-home and rural residential to commercial, and the final plat for the Maverick Sweetwater Subdivision.

The approvals matter because they clear title, zoning and platting obstacles on an 8.55-acre site north of the original Covered Wagon Park plat so Maverick can move forward with a store and associated infrastructure. Staff recommended approval for each item but attached conditions related to engineering review, drainage, financial assurance and coordination on water and sewer access.

Eric (county planning staff) told the commission the 8.55-acre portion lies in the northwest quarter of Section 7, Township 18 North, and is in an area where commercial development already exists. He said the southern portion of the original 1981 Covered Wagon Park plat was never built and that the parcel is currently within Jamestown Water and the Rio Vista Water and Sewer Districts. Eric said Maverick intends a septic system until a sewer trunk line is available and that access was proposed off Highway 30. He also asked that Maverick continue to work with Project West and the property owners identified in staff materials to complete a water-pipeline easement across the subdivision.

Applicant Stuart L. Grow Jr. of Corner Properties and Todd Myers of Maverick Incorporated described the project as time-sensitive for construction; Myers said Maverick would prefer to begin building soon but the company may wait for the sewer trunk line if the sewer district’s schedule permits. Greg Day of Hunt Day Engineering presented the zone-map amendment rationale, saying the change would “clean things up” by aligning zoning with surrounding commercial uses. Public Works Director Ligursky confirmed the submitted drainage report had been received and would be reviewed by the end of the week.

Staff noted a remaining requirement for financial assurance: a fully executed subdivision improvements agreement must be submitted before recordation of the final plat. County staff and the applicant discussed two timing provisions: (1) the subdivision-improvement agreement allows up to 24 months, with a possible six-month extension, to complete improvements; and (2) county regulations require the plat to be recorded within 180 days of approval. County counsel/staff (Mr. De Leon) and staff said those two provisions can coexist, but any extension of the 180-day recording deadline would require a formal variance.

The county also confirmed two technical items: the Department of Environmental Quality requires an advanced septic system if the project proceeds on septic, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation has approved proposed access. Staff listed outstanding items as final engineering comments and confirmation of financial assurances; staff recommended approval contingent on those items and on recording any necessary easements.

Commission action: the commission voted to approve the partial vacation, the zone map amendment and the final plat with staff recommendations. Each motion carried by the commission, recorded as 4–0; roll-call votes by individual commissioner name were not recorded in the transcript. The commission noted the final plat will proceed to the Board of County Commissioners on March 18 for final action.

The commission’s approvals clear the principal land-use and zoning obstacles for a Maverick store on the parcel but leave the project contingent on completing engineering reviews, recording the subdivision improvements agreement and completing required easements and DEQ/sewer coordination. If the project proceeds, county staff said financial assurances and drainage comments must be resolved before the county will record the final plat.","The Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a partial vacation of Covered Wagon Park subdivision, a zone-map amendment to commercial, and the Maverick Sweetwater final plat with conditions; approvals are contingent on engineering, a subdivision improvements agreement and coordination on water/sewer easements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

NextEra presents Jackalope Wind project: developers outline 600 MW plan and local economic benefits

Commission approves variance for large Maverick sign near interstate with conditions

Planning commission approves partial vacation, zone change and final plat for Maverick Sweetwater subdivision