Company takes over power project

CHEYENNE - The Anschutz Corp. said Tuesday that it has taken over as developer of a $3 billion power line project designed to carry electricity from Wyoming to the southwest United States.

The corporation, owned by Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz, said it will develop the TransWest Express Project through an affiliate called TransWest Express LLC, also based in Denver.

The proposed project involves building a 900-mile, 3,000-megawatt high-voltage transmission line to deliver Wyoming wind-generated power to Las Vegas, Nev., and then on to southern California and the Phoenix area.

Anschutz recently applied for a permit to build 1,000 wind turbines near Rawlins, where the power line would be located.

Until now, the TransWest project had involved the Arizona Public Service Co., the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority and National Grid, a British utility company.

The three had spent about $2.8 million on the project over the last couple of years, mostly on preliminary planning, such as studies on where the line should be placed, said Steve Waddington, executive director of the Infrastructure Authority.

Anschutz officials declined to comment on any financial aspects of the transaction, but Waddington said the corporation did not put up any money to acquire the project.

"They're basically promising to spend money going forward," Waddington said. "It's at the point now where the dollars will start to get bigger in order to progress it because it's such a big project."

Teton GOP forwards 3 names

JACKSON - Republicans in Teton County have chosen three finalists to fill a vacancy on the Teton County Commission following the death of Bill Paddleford.

Paddleford died July 7 of cancer.

The County Commission will choose the new commissioner from the three finalists: Larry Williamson of Alta, Paul Vogelheim of Jackson, and Scott Anderson of Jackson.

Williamson recently retired after a career with Grand Targhee Resort. Vogelheim lost a bid for the Jackson Town Council in 2006, while Anderson served 12 years on the Jackson Town Council before losing re-election in 2006.

State considers wellness discount

CHEYENNE - Gov. Dave Freudenthal says the state plans to give state employees a discount on their health insurance premiums if they agree to eat right, exercise and make regular doctor visits for wellness screenings and tests.

Freudenthal announced the "Healthier Wyoming" program Tuesday. It's part of a state effort to save money on health insurance premiums.

Freudenthal says costs in the State Employees' Group Plan have increased from $37 million in 1999 up to $116 million currently. Over the same period, monthly family premiums for state employees have risen from $390 to more than $1,200.

Freudenthal says the state hasn't figured out yet how much of a discount the state will offer employees who participate in the plan.