Utilities Get A Leg Up
Under the bill, no one could use condemnation authority to erect, place or expand collector systems. An amendment to the bill exempted public utilities.
Collector systems, according to the bill, are conductor infrastructure, including conductors, towers, substations, switch-gear and other components needed to deliver power from any commercial wind generating facility to transmission lines that send the power to a grid.
The Wyoming Legislature has granted the utilities control of all windmills in the State, by allowing windmill operators the right of condemnation power.
Is this good? The response probably depends on whether the utilities will be regulated and whether property owners are treated fairly.
