Rail Tie Wind Project

A controversial wind turbine project outside of Laramie received approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to move forward.The Rail Tie Wind Project, spearheaded by power company ConnectGen, has been in the works since 2019. The end goal is a 504 megawatt wind farm with up to 149 wind turbines in southeastern Albany County.

A large wind farm has now won approval from both Carbon and Albany County Commissioners, and now awaits state and federal approvals before construction can start.

Wind and solar developments can affect everything from an area's viewshed to its wildlife. But solar panels and wind turbines are growing more common across the state as the world seeks greener sources of energy, and as energy firms notice Wyoming's wide open spaces.

A massive wind farm planned for Albany County is one step closer to approval.

The Albany County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve the long-debated Rail Tie Wind Project, which will cover 26,000 acres in the south of the county.

The White family cabin sits at the base of Boulder Ridge with a stunning view of the Laramie Valley. Today, Michelle White is canning beans, the pots…