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P&Z approves language aligning solar and wind rules on wildlife corridors, adds MET tower standards
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a language amendment to align wind and solar energy regulations on wildlife mitigation corridors and sage grouse habitat, added a definition of "significant adverse impact," and directed inclusion of MET tower removal and setback standards.
Sweetwater County's Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 8 certified a recommendation to amend county code language for solar and wind energy projects to make wildlife mitigation requirements consistent between the two, add a definition of "significant adverse impact," and add standards for meteorological (MET) towers used by wind developers.
Eric, speaking for the land use department, said the changes require that solar and wind energy facilities not be located within wildlife migration corridors designated in a Wyoming governor's executive order unless a formal review and mitigation strategy has been completed and approved by Wyoming Game and Fish and the facility complies with any conditions in that executive order. "No WEX facility shall be approved if it will result in significant adverse impact," Eric told the commission, reading the proposed language.
The amendment adds a definition of "significant adverse impact" to mean a demonstrable negative effect on wildlife habitat or behavior — for example, alteration or loss of habitat or disruption of movement, survival or reproduction to a degree likely to cause population-level effects or long-term habitat loss.
Eric cited a prior solar project in the county that disrupted an antelope migration corridor as a key reason for adding coordination requirements. The revised text requires project proponents to coordinate with relevant local, state and federal agencies, at a minimum listing Wyoming Game and Fish, transportation, agriculture, and environmental quality, and — depending on project location — the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Bureau of Reclamation.
On MET towers, the draft adds numeric standards: towers shall not exceed 200 feet above ground; towers exceeding 100 feet must comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and be marked with FAA-approved lighting; and setbacks are set at 1.5 times tower height from all property lines or public rights-of-way, whichever is greater. Commissioners asked whether the code should require prompt removal if a MET tower site proves infeasible; staff agreed to add MET towers into the county's existing removal/abandonment enforcement language so defunct towers would be removed.
Commissioner Sean asked whether a removal timeframe should be specified; Eric said the enforcement language addressing removal of defective or abandoned structures would be amended to explicitly include MET towers and that staff would refine the timing language before the Board of County Commissioners review.
A commissioner moved to accept the language amendment with the addition of MET towers to the removal/abandonment language; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Eric explained the code change process to the commission: if the P&Z certifies a recommendation it goes to the Board of County Commissioners as a notice of intent, followed by a 45-day public comment period before final certification.
