Cheyenne council discusses new revenue streams, potential development of eastern ranch and solar sites

Cheyenne City Council members on the work-session agenda discussed a plan to pursue new revenue streams and explore development options for a large, undeveloped ranch on the city’s east side, including utility-scale solar and other industrial uses.

Councilman Seagrave, who led the presentation of maps and elevations, said the eastern half of the ranch is large and flat enough for solar and other development. “This is the eastern end, there’s about 10,685 acres on this half,” Seagrave said, noting access and ownership of several sections would need to be resolved before development could proceed. He also described several parcels as being adjacent to existing infrastructure, including interstate exchanges, water, gas and railroad access.

The council discussed two related approaches: (1) developing solar on city-owned land to meet much of the city’s own electricity demand and lower utility costs, and (2) partnering with private developers to build larger commercial-scale solar or other energy facilities that could produce revenue or rent for the city. Council members and staff noted a state statutory limitation that prevents the city from directly owning or selling electricity; several speakers said that partnership or lease structures would be required.

Mayor Collins and Council members urged a stepwise plan. Collins recommended beginning with an RFP to get concrete private-sector proposals for arrays sized to offset the city’s load and to identify finance structures for larger projects on ranch land. Councilman Seagrave said an RFP would help the council decide whether to pursue an on‑site, city‑consumed solar array (to reduce operating costs) or a large, partnered project that would generate revenue.

Council members also flagged related constraints and next steps: determining legal authority to participate, confirming grant and bonding limits, assessing grid interconnection costs, and identifying which parcels (state, private, or city-owned) could be acquired or traded for development.

Several staff and council members recommended short, testable deliverables: issue an RFP or feasibility request for solar sized to the city’s consumption; obtain a legal memorandum on statutory limits for municipal ownership or partnership models; and identify potential access routes or property trades for the eastern ranch by midyear. The council agreed to continue work on the topic and to review progress in late July.