Salazar Announces Approval of Wind Project in Carbon County

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has approved a Wyoming wind farm with up to 1,000 turbines that would provide electricity to some 1 million homes.  Salazar signed the project plan at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. The school offers technical training for jobs in wind power.

Groundwork is set to begin next year on the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in Carbon County. Salazar highlighted the project Tuesday as an example of what he says is President Barack Obama's commitment to renewable energy development on public lands. He says that under Obama, the Interior Department has approved 10,000 megawatts of renewable power, or enough electricity for more than 3.5 million homes.

Casey Knopp a student in LCCC's Wind Energy Technology Program says he was very pleased to hear about the Carbon County project because it means he may be able to work in Wyoming. He added that he was also pleased to hear that there are wind energy projects around the country as well  which means he can "get a job almost anywhere."