Feds Discuss Eagle Kill by Massive Wyoming Wind Farm

SARATOGA, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun seeking ideas from the public as it considers ways to minimize and offset the number of eagles killed by what could become the largest wind farm in the country.

The federal agency has been working with the developer of the 1,000-turbine Chokecherry/Sierra Madre wind project for three years to make sure the turbines are placed away from areas frequented by eagles. They've been mapping nesting areas and flight corridors on the vast project area south of Rawlins in south-central Wyoming.

About 50 people gathered at a public scoping hearing on the project yesterday held by the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service in Sarasota.

The Power Company of Wyoming LLC, a wholly owned affiliate of Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz's The Anschutz Corp., plans to build the wind farm in two phases over four to five years. It would generate enough electricity to power up to 1 million homes.