CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne City Council has approved a $1 million grant that will be used to reduce pollution and fund plans to implement alternative energy.
On Monday night, the city’s governing body passed two agenda items aimed at assisting the city’s clean energy initiatives. The first is a resolution that authorizes Mayor Patrick Collins to pursue impact funds for the city’s proposed Cowboy Solar Project. The second is a memorandum granting the city $1 million to support city staff’s efforts to reduce emission reductions and develop renewable energy initiatives.
The grant was awarded to the city by the Environmental Protection Agency. The federal agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program provides $5 billion in funding to states, local governments, tribes and territories that are following through with plans to reduce emissions.
The Cowboy Solar Project refers to a proposed solar power and battery energy storage from Canadian-based energy company Enbridge Inc. The project would be constructed on private land approximately 4 miles southeast of Cheyenne and would consist of 400 megawatt alternating current and a 371 MWac solar generation facility, according to the council’s resolution. The project would be developed in two phases, the first of which would start in 2025. The second phase would commence the following year.
Councilmembers unanimously passed both agenda items. Speaking on the EPA grant resolution, Councilmember Pete Laybourn expressed his approval for the city’s clean energy efforts.
“It’s really something that I think is gonna bring a benefit to this city far into the future,” Laybourn said. “We are gonna become a real leader in the state of Wyoming in alternative energy and pollution reduction.”
