Seminoe Pumped Storage Project
Current Update:
April 4, 2025
Thanks to community members like YOU, FERC shared via public record that an EIS for the Seminoe Project will be conducted. The Issuance of License Order (aka Record of Decision) is expected mid-April 2026, with the Final EIS to follow in July 2026. WYORBA thanks you for your advocacy!
Are you a guide on the Miracle Mile? Do you frequent Seminoe State Park? This project may impact you! WYORBA wants to hear your perspective. Contact addi@wyorba.org.
Photo: Carbon County Visitor Center
The Seminoe Pumped Storage Project, a renewable energy storage project in south-central Wyoming poses significant risks to the Blue Ribbon fishery at Miracle Mile, Seminoe State Park, and surrounding recreation areas. The project, proposed by rPlus Hydro is currently under permitting review by regulatory and management agencies. The project would impact over 1,000 acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Construction plans include:
A new upper reservoir
Water conveyance and maintenance tunnels
An underground powerhouse
An access bridge
Two overhead transmission lines
The Miracle Mile on the North Platte River draws anglers from across the country and sustains guides and outfitters throughout Wyoming, contributing millions to the state's economy each year. WYORBA is concerned about this project's disruption to year-round outdoor recreation, impacting anglers, hunters, campers, and visitors to Seminoe State Park.
Key Concerns
Wildlife Impact: The current plan routes construction and transmission lines through vital mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and sage grouse habitats, threatening population stability.
Water Quality & Fisheries: Sediment disposal into Kortes Reservoir, which flows into the Miracle Mile, could degrade water quality and disrupt fish populations. Walleye entrainment rates are projected to exceed the annual catch rate by more than four times, disrupting the balance of native fish species and further impacting the local angling community.
Recreation & Access Concerns: Five years of 24/7 construction—including road upgrades, a cement batch plant, and heavy equipment traffic—will impact a popular hunting range near Bennett Mountain, Seminoe State Park campgrounds, increase traffic congestion, and potentially reroute visitors, leading to restricted access and unfavorable outdoor experiences.
Neighboring Counties Impact: The current economic study focuses solely on Carbon County, but the project’s years-long construction and long-term effects on fisheries could have significant implications for surrounding counties. Additional analysis is needed to understand the broader regional economic impact.
Take Action
Submit a comment urging FERC to require an EIS by March 14, 2025.
WYORBA has submitted a formal comment urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require a full Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to ensure outdoor recreation impacts are addressed. The deadline to comment is 4 PM on Friday, March 14. Submit your comment today!
Go to FERC’s eComment page
Enter Docket Number: P-14799
Write Your Comment: Make it personal, state where you live and your concerns. Urge FERC to require an EIS.
Sign the Petition
Our friends at Trout Unlimited, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation, and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation have organized a petition to urge agencies to thoroughly address the impacts to fisheries, wildlife, and outdoor recreation economy.
WYORBA will continue to monitor and track project developments closely. Your input is important to us. Reach out to us to share your perspective. Contact: addi@wyorba.org.
