Laramie Range Wind Project in Laramie County, Wyoming remains in a contested development stage, with its future hinging on ongoing regulatory proceedings and post-denial appeal processes. Following the Laramie County Board of Commissioners’ rejection of the original 650 MW proposal in September 2025, project developer Repsol Renewables (through ConnectGen Laramie County LLC) has continued to pursue a revised permitting pathway rather than abandoning the development. The project is currently engaged in Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Industrial Siting Council proceedings (DEQ/ISC 24-02) as of May 2026. Repsol is attempting to re-establish regulatory approval at the state level after setbacks at the county level. This comes as the company expands its renewables portfolio in the U.S. with developments such the recently commissioned 825 MW Pinnington Solar Project in Texas.
Prior revisions reduced turbine count and tightened project boundaries. While no construction activity has begun, the project remains active in the sense of permitting, legal review and stakeholder engagement, keeping it alive within Wyoming’s increasingly complex wind energy approval landscape.
Laramie Range Wind Project Overview
Location: Laramie County, Wyoming
Developer: Repsol Renewables
Project Type: Utility-scale onshore wind energy project
Planned Capacity: 650 MW (original design)
Revised Design: 139-170 turbines (down from initial 170)
Land Area: Over 41,000 acres in revised plan
Grid Interconnection: Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association system
Status as of May 2026: Permitting and Industrial Siting Council proceedings (DEQ/ISC 24-02); post-county denial appeal phase
Technical Scope
- Wind turbine installations
- On-site substations and switchyard infrastructure
- 345 kV generation tie-line
- Access roads, meteorological towers, SCADA systems
Key Development Figures
Installed Capacity: Up to 650 MW
Estimated Homes Powered: 200,000 homes
Estimated Investment: $1.1 billion
Construction Jobs: Up to 300 during peak construction
Permanent Jobs: 20-25 operations roles
Tax Contribution: $194 million local tax base impact
Regulatory Authorities
- Laramie County Board of Commissioners for local zoning authority – denied permit
- Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ)
- Wyoming Industrial Siting Council – current decision body
- Wyoming Game & Fish Department for wildlife review
- State Historic Preservation Office for cultural heritage review
- WYDOT for transportation and access review
Project Development Timeline
Early Development Phase
- Pre-2023: Site identification, land agreements, and preliminary design work
- 2023-2024: Formal permitting applications submitted; public consultation begins
Regulatory Escalation
- July-Aug 2024: County-level hearings and environmental review processes
- September 2025: Laramie County Commissioners deny project permit citing unresolved concerns
Appeal Phase
- Late 2025: Developer signals intent to revise and reapply
- February 2026: Open-house and stakeholder engagement sessions held
- April 2026: Continued regional debate and corridor-wide wind development concerns emerge
- May 2026: Laramie Range Wind Project listed under Wyoming DEQ Industrial Siting Council proceedings (DEQ/ISC 24-02). Project remains in state-level permitting and appeal pathway review. No construction authorization granted.
What Next for Laramie Range Wind Project in Wyoming
Laramie Range Wind Project remains technically viable but procedurally constrained. Its future is dependent on the outcome of state-level Industrial Siting Council proceedings and potential redesign approvals.
While the project retains strong economic and grid-scale value in principle, regulatory resistance at the county level signals that future success will likely require reduced footprint design, enhanced community benefit structuring and stronger environmental mitigation commitments.
If approved, it could still become one of southeastern Wyoming’s major wind energy installations, but its timeline has now shifted further into the late-decade horizon.
Repsol’s Proposed 650MW Laramie Range Wind Project Shut Down in Wyoming
Reported September 23, 2025 – The Laramie Range wind project is facing a major setback following the Laramie Country Commissioner’s decision to discontinue the project. The project which is a 650MW wind project would have generated enough electricity to power 300,000 homes and inject a substantial $1billion into the local economy.
The three to one vote by the commissioners leaves Repsol the developers of the project a window to appeal the decision to forestall the shutdown.
The decision seems to echo the federal governments opposition to wind energy projects that is negatively impacting the future growth of renewable energy development. The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project another project in Wyoming has faced continued delays taht have pushed the completion date to 2026.
Spanish Renewables Developer Repsol Proposes Wind Energy Project in Laramie County, Wyoming
Reported June 28, 2025 – A proposed wind energy project could soon transform the landscape of northwest Laramie County, Wyoming. Repsol, a global energy company based in Madrid, Spain, is planning to build the Laramie Range Wind Project, a 650-megawatt (MW) wind farm that would span over 56,000 acres and feature up to 170 wind turbines, about 20 miles north of Cheyenne.
The project is being proposed in two phases—the first delivering 400 MW, and the second adding 250 MW, with full operations expected by 2029.
Permitting and Investment Outlook
Though no permit applications have been submitted yet, Repsol intends to file with Laramie County by the end of June and with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality by October. The Laramie Range Wind Project represents a $1.1 billion investment and is projected to operate for at least 35 years.
According to Repsol, the site was chosen for its proximity to an existing 345kV transmission line and low anticipated environmental impacts.
Economic and Employment Impact
The Laramie Range Wind Project is expected to create significant economic benefits for Laramie County:
- An average of 131 construction workers during the build-out
- 23 permanent full-time jobs
- Long-term tax revenue and annual lease payments to landowners
Charles Farthing sees the project as a critical source of diversification:
“The cattle business is cyclical. This is a way to sustain the ranch for future generations.”
Laramie Range Wind Project Fact Sheet
- Location: Northwest Laramie County, 20 miles north of Cheyenne
- Size: 170 turbines, over 56,000 acres
- Output: 650 MW (400 MW Phase 1 and 250 MW Phase 2)
- Company: Spain-based Repsol
- Investment: $1.1 billion
- Timeline: Operational by 2029
- Jobs: 131 construction, 23 full-time
- Land use: Compatible with ranching/grazing
- Connection: Ault-to-Laramie River 345kV line
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