RAWLINS, Wyo. - Carbon County is becoming the energy epicenter of Wyoming and is leading the way in how it handles development of wind projects, Tom Schroeder of the state Industrial Siting Council says.

"This is the center for wind farm development," Schroeder told the Carbon County Commission last week. "You're like an advance county for the rest of the state for determining (wind) issues and features of evaluation."

Wind projects need to meet county standards, he said, and the state Industrial Siting Council is watching Carbon County to see what kind of wind regulations it develops.

While industrial siting works to remedy unregulated issues for all industrial developments in the conditions it puts in its permits, Schroeder said what the county finds objectionable about a project "is very important to us."

Schroeder said at least 2,391 wind turbines are proposed for Carbon County, 1,000 of which would be in Power Co. of Wyoming's project south and east of Rawlins.

In comparison, he said no more than 445 turbines are proposed in neighboring Sweetwater County.

"With 2,300 towers headed this way, now is the time to be talking and planning for development," he said.

Schroeder said that setbacks for wind towers are an issue commissioners might want to address in wind regulations.

There are no current state or county requirements for how far back from roads and inhabited structures wind towers must be located, although federal wildlife agencies require a 1-mile setback from eagle nests.

Schroeder suggested a one-third-mile setback should be adequate for safety in the unlikely event a tower falls or if a blade is thrown from a turbine.

Commissioner Jerry Paxton brought up the viewshed issue that's been of concern to the commissioners recently.

Commission Chairman Terry Weickum said, "I think they're mesmerizing, but you can get to the point of how much is enough" when they begin interfering with scenic views.

Schroeder raised the issue of sounds made by the turbines as they spin.

Apparently they can make sounds just within the human hearing range, and research is being done to find out if they emit radio frequency sounds that could interfere with radio reception, he said.