Developer says Great Divide wind project ready but held up by FAA/DoD reviews; requests another bond extension

Scout Clean Energy representatives presented an update on the Great Divide wind project and asked for continued patience while federal reviews finish.

Casey Willis told the commission the project is a 252‑megawatt wind farm using 56 turbines on roughly 28,000 acres of private and state land, with a signed power purchase agreement and key equipment secured. Willis said the project completed permitting and environmental review but must obtain FAA approval for tall obstructions; after refiling turbine locations in late 2024 the Department of Defense (referred to in the presentation as the Department of War in the transcript) paused or is re‑reviewing those filings for military‑readiness concerns. Willis said Scout intends to request another three‑year industrial revenue‑bond extension (the county issued a three‑year extension in 2023 that expires in 2026) and that construction currently targets 2027 with commercial operation aimed for mid‑2028, contingent on FAA/DoD clearance.

Commissioners asked about local benefits (jobs and tax revenue), land ownership mix (roughly 50/50 private/state), and construction transport routes; Willis estimated roughly 10–16 permanent operations jobs and peak construction employment of about 300, said most components will arrive on private‑land routes from the west, and agreed to provide an improved map of haul routes for commissioner review. Residents objected to use of state land and expressed unease about impacts to public lands and wildlife corridors; the developer said the project footprint is limited to corridors for turbine pads and access and that grazing and other uses remain compatible.