rPlus Hydro, LLLP has announced the submission of a Draft License Application for its Seminoe Pumped Storage project, located near Rawlins, Wyoming. This submission is a significant achievement in rPlus Hydro's work to bring pumped storage to Wyoming and to contribute to the reliability of renewable energy sources Wyoming has to offer. The Seminoe Pumped Storage project will be Wyoming's first pumped hydro storage project and will facilitate up to 900 megawatts (MW) of flexible, long-duration, generating capacity.
With an estimated construction cost of approximately $2.5 billion, this project represents a substantial investment in Wyoming's clean energy infrastructure. The project will create up to 500 high-skilled construction jobs over 3-5 years. Once operational, the project will provide an estimated 35 full-time skilled positions to the area and generate more than $10 million in additional annual tax revenue for state and local governments.
rPlus Hydro's submission of its Draft License Application to Wyoming and Federal agencies is part of a multi-year study and approval process which includes in-depth engineering designs, environmental assessments, and community engagement.
"rPlus Hydro is thrilled to take this next step in advancing the Seminoe Pumped Storage project in Wyoming, a state that is a rich source of energy production - especially in wind generation. We are proud to be developing a project that will enable Wyoming to benefit from these emerging resources," said Luigi Resta, President of rPlus Hydro.
"This project also represents a significant economic opportunity to the local economy through increased jobs and tax revenues, in addition to enhancing and strengthening Wyoming's energy infrastructure."
The Draft License Application includes an overview of the proposed project configuration and design, baseline studies and data, estimated costs, proposed construction schedules, preliminary environmental analysis, and project maps. This submission starts a 90-day agency review process that will refine this proposal in preparation for the submission of the Final License Application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Final License Application will include additional baseline data collection, impact analyses, and opportunities for public input.
"We look forward to engaging with federal, state, tribal governments, and the public as we progress this project," said Lars Dorr, Program Manager for the Seminoe Pumped Storage project.
"Submittal of this Draft License Application marks the beginning of a robust review process, and we are confident that this process will ultimately result in the best outcomes for this project, the community, and for clean electric generation in Wyoming."
The Seminoe Pumped Storage project is crucial to the reliability and dependability of Wyoming's electrical grid as it moves towards greater reliance on renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
"Pumped storage hydro has been relied upon for decades as a tool for energy storage and grid reliability," said Matthew Shapiro, CEO of rPlus Hydro.
"As Wyoming creates and utilizes more renewable energy generation, like wind energy, energy storage projects like Seminoe will play a key role in making that energy available to everyone long into the future."