Wind Lease Cancellations in Wyoming

The Wyoming Land Commission recently voted 3-2 on February 5 to start the process of ending certain wind leases linked to the Pronghorn and Sidewinder projects located in the eastern region of the state.

The Pronghorn project is situated on state land in Converse County, while the Sidewinder project is based in Niobrara County. Both projects had received approval from the state commission back in April 2025, but they’ve encountered significant pushback from local residents and property owners for several months.

According to reports, Comptroller Christy Racines, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, and Director of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder supported the decision to initiate the lease cancellations. However, Governor Mark Gordon and Finance Minister Kurt Meyer opposed the motion.

Gray mentioned after the vote that the board was acting within its rights because a court had ruled the original lease approval was illegal. He remarked, “I continue to oppose these wind leases because they are problematic. They contradict the board’s responsibilities.” He also noted his earlier dissent regarding the proposal when it was first presented to the commission.

Many locals voiced their concerns during a rally at the Capitol auditorium in Cheyenne, citing possible long-term effects on wildlife, water resources, and property values. Some attendees raised issues regarding water usage and infrastructure, suggesting that the projects could strain local water systems and disrupt existing land uses. Several expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency and changes made to the project plans.

As the meeting stretched for over six hours, one participant highlighted the frustration around the transparency of the entire process, which seemed to be a recurring theme among the speakers.