County steps up lobbying for industrial complex

Sweetwater County's efforts to attract a large-scale industrial complex continue as state officials visit with some of the Sweetwater County Commissioners.

The complex, which is little more than an idea at this point, is based on a massive industrial complex in Alberta, Canada known as the Heartland complex. Legislators from Wyoming, including Representative John Freeman (D-Green River) toured the facility in late February, striking interest amongst lawmakers throughout the state in the possibility of creating a similar facility in Wyoming. The Sweetwater County Commissioners have already voiced support for bringing an industrial complex to Sweetwater County, citing the available space and proximity to many of the necessary resources, including water.

Commissioner Reid West said the state hasn't made a decision regarding where such a facility would be placed, but believes the county should be proactive in selling Sweetwater County as a place to build.

"I think our county ought to do what it can to attract that kind of business to the county," West said.

The meeting between the state and county was the first of several officials from Cheyenne are hosting throughout the state. Commissioner John Kolb, who also attended the meeting, feels hopeful about the fact that the state started the discussion in Sweetwater County, saying the move is "indicative of how the state feels about the project."

"I'd rather be first than last," Kolb said about the meeting schedule.

Kolb agrees with West's position that the county should act now to convince officials and legislators Sweetwater County is the best place for the facility. Speaking during the commissioners' meeting Tuesday, Kolb said the county should start looking ahead of potential issues to show the state how serious it is in acquiring the facility.

Kolb calls the potential issues the county faces a big puzzle, saying the county would need to find solutions to a number of problems.

One of those issues involves the suspected pollution a massive industrial complex would create, which Kolb believes could separate the complex into smaller sister sites across the state to mitigate the concentrated air pollution one complex would create.