Blair Leist expects to spend a lot of time pondering wind.

He won't focus on the ill-tempered wind that tears doors off cars or turns an otherwise pleasant winter day into an Antarctic ordeal, but rather, on the wind's more economically pleasing side.

Leist, the Natrona County development director, will be working on regulatory questions related to big wind farms.

"We know they're coming," he said. "There's no question about it."

Since starting with Natrona County last summer, Leist and his staff have helped pave the way for wind energy projects, both large and small.

With the exception of two zoning districts on Casper Mountain, small wind turbines for domestic use are now a permitted use throughout the county.

Big wind farms are governed by emergency regulations, which will go through a formal hearing process in the coming months.

Leist said his department also will be monitoring how county roads might be affected by large wind projects.

Leist has had a long-standing interest in renewable energy. Fifteen years ago, he ran a consulting company called "The Institute for Sustainable Development," and he has been involved ever since in Wyoming and Colorado planning issues.

When he interviewed for his current position, Leist said he was interested to know if there was room for renewable energy projects in Natrona County to complement the oil and gas industry. He was assured there is.

In 2009, the development department will begin work on a new comprehensive plan that takes into account such topics as zoning, energy, transportation and housing needs in Natrona County. Such a plan has not been done for a decade.

Leist also wants to take a look at how Casper Mountain is being used.

County planning can be a political minefield, he said, and finding an equilibrium between private rights and public benefits can be challenging.

"It's a fine line," Leist said. "I'm a staunch supporter of private property rights. But I'm also a supporter of the social good. And trying to run that balance and finding that line can be tough."

Reach business editor Tom Mast at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574.

News Tracker

What happened in 2008: Natrona County passed regulations allowing small wind turbines for domestic use.

Where things stand: Larger wind farms still require special approval from the county.

Coming in 2009: Wind will continue to be a topic for the county's development department, as it begins its first comprehensive plan in a decade.