The $1.2-billion solar farm would provide power to data centers owned by Microsoft, Meta, and others.

Residents near Cheyenne, Montana are expressing concern about a $1.2-billion solar farm project that will provide power to data centers nearby, reports Pat Maio in Cowboy State Daily.
The project will include over 1 million solar panels and a large battery storage system to be built on land leased from local property owners. “The proposed site is on virgin dry prairie grasslands that receive little rainfall and is subject to frequent high winds and hailstorms,” prompting concerns about potential lithium-based fires. The project infrastructure could also damage the fragile grassland ecosystem and have spillover effects on adjacent ranchland, while construction will bring hundreds of trucks through the area over two years.
According to Paio, “Wyoming’s Industrial Siting Council, the governmental body within the Department of Environmental Quality that considers such solar farm project proposals, approved the construction project in March, a 90-day fast track for the concept, which still needs approval from Laramie County commissioners.”
FULL STORY: Massive $1.2 Billion Panel Solar Farm Planned For South Cheyenne

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Private Donations Propel Early Restoration of Palisades Playground
Los Angeles has secured over $1.3 million in private funding to restore the Pacific Palisades playground months ahead of schedule, creating a modern, accessible space that supports community healing after recent wildfires.

From Blight to Benefit: Early Results From California’s Equitable Cleanup Program
The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program is reshaping brownfield redevelopment by prioritizing projects in low-income and environmental justice communities, emphasizing equity, transparency, and community benefits.

Planting Relief: Tackling Las Vegas Heat One Tree at a Time
Nevada Plants, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, is combating the city’s extreme urban heat by giving away trees to residents in underserved neighborhoods, promoting shade, sustainability, and community health.
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