Developer interest shines on 2nd solar farm proposal

A second solar farm might join the Sweetwater Solar facility off of Highway 372 if plans come to fruition.

The second facility, referred to as the Raven Solar project, would be placed at the southeast corner of the Sweetwater Solar facility and is anticipated to generate 61 megawatts of electricity and have 24 megawatts of battery capacity on site. The site would encompass 350 acres of land.

The project is being spearheaded by Energy of Utah, LLC of Sandy, Utah. The company's website describes it as being focused on renewable energy consulting and the development of renewable energy in the Intermountain West. The Raven Solar project is one of 21 projects Energy of Utah lists on its website it has worked on in Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Oregon and South Dakota. Nine of those projects are in Wyoming and include the Sweetwater Solar facility. Further information about the company's projects was not available on its website, as the "more info" link leads to a page filled with placeholder text.

Ros Rocco, president of Energy for Utah, said construction on the project could start in two years. The company submitted its site plan to the Bureau of Land Management, which hosted a public meeting for stakeholders two weeks ago. He said the company is waiting for the Bureau of Land Management to schedule a National Environmental Policy Act meeting.

The proposed site was the company's second choice. Rocco said the company initially looked at a gravel pit off of Highway 372 utilized by the Wyoming Department of Transportation that is nearly depleted. That location turned out to be too close to trona mining activities.

Rocco also said the area is attractive to solar developers because of the high altitude and low average temperatures.

He also said interest in generating electricity through solar collection has increased in the last four years, which has led to his company starting several projects.

He said Energy of Utah recently completed its Sage I, II, and III projects and is looking to begin construction on projects outside of Billings, Mont.

According to Eric Bingham, director of the county's planning and zoning office, Energy of Utah has not submitted plans to the office. Similar to Sweetwater Solar, the company would be required to obtain a conditional use permit from the county.

Bingham said that process may change in the near future, as the state is considering changes to the industrial siting regulations regarding solar farms.