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County and wildlife officials raise alarms over proposed large solar project on trust lands near county line
Summary
Council members and the Division of Wildlife Resources discussed a proposed ~3,000-acre, ~450-MW solar project near the Carbon–Emery county line, warning it could remove critical mule-deer winter range; DWR said the site would be on the agency’s radar for impacts to deer and that the county’s planning, tax-incentive and permitting roles are central to local influence.
Council members discussed a proposed large solar project on state trust lands near the Carbon–Emery county line that was described in the meeting as roughly 3,000 acres and about 450 megawatts, with potential plans for an attached data center. Multiple council members and the Division of Wildlife Resources expressed concern that placing extensive utility-scale solar panels on benches above the county would displace mule deer from critical winter range.
Colton Taylor, impact analysis biologist for the Division of Wildlife Resources, said the project footprint would be on DWR's radar and that loss of bench habitat could be "pretty detrimental" to mule-deer winter range. "That's definitely crucial winter range for Emery County and Carmen County," he said. Speakers noted the potential for displacement to push animals onto adjacent private lands and BLM allotments, creating cascading impacts on ranching operations and winter habitat capacity.
Council members discussed potential local tools to influence projects on federal or state trust lands, including tax-incentive settings and local permitting through planning and zoning for on-county infrastructure and supporting facilities. One member noted the county previously passed a resolution opposing large-scale projects on federal lands and that an ordinance affecting private property rights could raise legal issues.
Next steps: Council asked staff to continue tracking the project, to coordinate cross-jurisdictional communications (BLM, DWR, trust lands office and planning), and to prepare materials for commission consideration on potential county responses.
