FERC wraps up public scoping meetings and onsite tour for Seminoe Pumped Storage Project

If you’ve been following developments in renewable energy projects around Wyoming, you’ll want to know about the latest on the proposed Seminoe Pumped Storage Project. On Sept. 24 and 25, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Rawlins Field Office, hosted a series of public scoping meetings and conducted an onsite tour to give the public a closer look at the project. This project has the potential to power approximately 317,860 homes annually—an exciting step forward in clean energy.

What’s the Project All About?

The Seminoe Pumped Storage Project, proposed by Black Canyon Hydro, LLC, and rPlus Hydro, LLLP, aims to harness the power of water in an innovative way. Located at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) Seminoe Reservoir on the North Platte River, the project site is about 35 miles northeast of Rawlins, Wyoming. The plan? To build a new upper reservoir atop Bennett Mountain, adjacent to the Wilderness Study Area. Water will be pumped up from the existing Seminoe Reservoir and released back down through tunnels to generate energy.

This isn’t a small-scale operation, either. The project will include a water conveyance system, maintenance tunnels, an underground powerhouse, an access bridge, and two transmission lines. It’ll take up around 1,025 acres of BLM-managed land and 77 acres managed by the BOR.

What Happened at the Meetings?

The public scoping meetings, held in Casper and Rawlins, were a chance for the public to get informed, ask questions, and share concerns. FERC is conducting an environmental review of the project, and feedback from these meetings will help shape that analysis. The goal is to identify any potential environmental issues early on—such as impacts on local wildlife, vegetation, and recreational areas—so they can be properly addressed in the planning process.

What About the Onsite Tour?

On Sept. 25, participants had the opportunity to get a firsthand look at the project area. The tour covered key locations, including the proposed site of the upper reservoir, access roads, tunnels, and the Miracle Mile recreation area. Seeing these spots in person provided valuable insight into how the project might impact the landscape and surrounding areas.

Your Chance to Provide Feedback

Even though the meetings have wrapped up, it’s not too late to make your voice heard. FERC is still accepting scoping comments and motions to intervene and protests on the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project, and you can submit yours online through November 5, 2024. This is a great opportunity for the public to weigh in and have a say in the future of this renewable energy project.

Commenters can file scoping comments and motions to intervene and protests using FERC’s eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx.  Commenters can submit brief comments (up to 6,000 characters) without prior registration using the FERC’s eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx.

For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call (866) 208-3676 (toll-free) or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).In lieu of electronic filing, paper submissions may be sent by U.S. Postal Service to:

Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street NE, Room 1A
Washington, DC 20426

For submission sent via other carriers, use the following:
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
12225 Wilkins Avenue
Rockville, MD 20852

Just make sure to include the project name and docket number on your submission: Seminoe Pumped Storage Project (P-14787-004).

Stay Informed

For more details on the project and how you can participate, visit FERC’s public website at ferc.gov. Your input can help shape the future of clean energy in Wyoming!