Letters to the Editor: Balance of energy development misses the mark

Dear Editor,

As I watch the big wind farm in Carbon County take shape it continues to sadden me. I know Phil Anschutz and am confident his organization will do as responsible a job in installing them according to the conditions the permits that the Federal agencies require as can be done. Hopefully it will provide some significant long term financial benefit to the state and county. It is certain that it will negatively impact the vista’s those of us in Wyoming have enjoyed generations. As I appreciate the dynamics of the project most, of not all, of the power will find its way to California. What also strikes me is that the federal government in siting the facility in California project in Wyoming believes that snail darters are more valuable than bald and golden eagles. The permits for the wind farms contain certain allowable annual “takes of eagles”. In plain English that means they can kill that many every year.. California tore down dams that generated power in order to “save” the snail darter. There are always tradeoffs when the dual objectives of development and environmental protection require one or the other to adapt to “balance” that equation. In my judgment they have significantly missed the mark in this case.

Signed,

Keith Bailey

Tulsa, OK & Saratoga, WY