Wyoming wind power, if reasonably developed, would more than double the amount of electricity produced by all other sources in the state, a representative of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority said Wednesday.

Wyoming wind ultimately could produce about 15,000 megawatts a year, Steve Ellenbecker told the Wind Energy Task Force at the McMurry Training Center.

"Fifteen-thousand megawatts is a threshold we could accomplish," Ellenbecker said.

But that goal means nothing without the ability to move the power to market, he said. "We can develop as much wind as we can build transmission for."

With the transmission in place, the goal is stunning.

By way of comparison, all Wyoming facilities such as the Jim Bridger and Dave Johnston power plants produce about 6,000 MW a year, he said. One megawatt can power 300 homes.

Of that total, about 2,000 MW are used in Wyoming, Ellenbecker said. Wyoming also imports power from hydroelectric facilities in the Pacific Northwest, he said.

Wind now produces about 800 MW of the state's total 6,000 MW, he said. "It's already become a meaningful part of energy generation."

But that 800 MW taps out the system until more transmission lines are built, said Ellenbecker, the director of governmental and external relations for the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, which has the job of diversifying and expanding the economy by improving the transmission system and promoting clean coal technology.

That 800 MW production exceeds the "renewable portfolio standards" set by many western states and provinces that require a certain percentage of their power - usually starting at 5 percent - be generated by wind, solar and other renewable sources, Ellenbecker said.

Wyoming does not have a renewable portfolio standard, but it has huge potential to meet needs elsewhere, he said.

According to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, Wyoming has a potential of nearly 139,000 MW that could be generated by wind power, or more than half the total 277,000 MW estimate of all western states and provinces, Ellenbecker said.

But reality drastically cuts Wyoming's potential, which is still enormous, he said.

Ellenbecker arrived at the 15,000 MW estimate by considering cost and regulatory issues, and ruling out areas that are environmentally sensitive, culturally significant, impractical, scenically valuable, and other reasons.

To reach that goal he proposed developing 3,000 MW portions that include the wind farms, a system to collect the electricity for transmission, and a transmission system to send it out of state, he said.

Each 3,000 MW portion would create $2 billion in direct and employment benefits and tax revenues during construction, $316 million in benefits per year of operation, and 176 long-term, well-paying jobs, he said.

Ellenbecker urged the task force to analyze collector systems, because a lack of coordination among wind energy producers would be costly and wasteful.

"We need to do this as efficiently and effectively as we can," he said after his presentation. "Let's don't do this helter-skelter."

Sophie Osborn, an ornithologist and wildlife program manager for the Wyoming Outdoor Council, said she had no reason to question Ellenbecker's estimates.

But Osborn agreed with his desire to develop wind power in a way to minimize its impact on wildlife such as sage grouse, she said. "Do it in where there are no significant conflicts."

Lin Alder, project permitting manager and environmental specialist for the Utah-based Wasatch Wind company, said he couldn't argue with Ellenbecker's 15,000 MW estimate.

And he couldn't agree more with Ellenbecker's linking generation and transmission, he said.

"There will never be more turbines than transmission lines," Alder said. "The goal that needs to be set is how many thousands of megawatts should be developed."

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at tom.morton@trib.com. Read his blog at tribtown.trib.com/TomMorton/blog.