Larimer commissioners continue decision on Platte River’s request for five aeroderivative turbines at Rawhide

Platte River Power Authority asked the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on March 10 to approve a 10‑41 permit to install five aeroderivative natural‑gas turbines and supporting infrastructure at the Rawhide Energy Station; the board continued the hearing to March 24 to allow more technical review and community input.

The application covers about 30 acres of new construction with roughly 32 additional acres set aside for laydown and staging on PRPA’s Rawhide site, located about 9 miles north of Wellington on County Road 82. Cassidy Fiore, principal planner for Larimer County, told commissioners the application was accompanied by an extensive packet of technical reports, that staff and referral agencies had proposed 32 recommended conditions of approval, and that the county had asked the applicant for follow‑up materials during the technical review.

Why it matters: Commissioners, staff and residents framed the decision around two competing obligations — meeting grid reliability and decarbonization goals while protecting public health in a region designated a severe ozone nonattainment area. The hearing drew more than 40 people for…