NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, 

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the 

Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Economic Development from 

New Generation and 

Transmission in Wyoming and 

Colorado

D. Keyser and E. Lantz

Produced under direction of Wyoming Infrastructure Authority 

(WIA) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 

under TSA 12-480 and Task No. WTCA.1000.

Work for Others Report

NREL/TP-6A20-57411

March 2013
NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 

Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

15013 Denver West Parkway

Golden, CO 80401

303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov

Economic Development from 

New Generation and 

Transmission in Wyoming and 

Colorado 

D. Keyser and E. Lantz

Prepared under Task No. WTCA.1000

Work for Others Report

NREL/TP-6A20-57411

March 2013
NOTICE

This manuscript has been authored by employees of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (“Alliance”) under 

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 with the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”).

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. 

Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of 

any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately 

owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, 

or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed 

herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

Cover Photos: (left to right) PIX 16416, PIX 17423, PIX 16560, PIX 17613, PIX 17436, PIX 17721

Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste. 
Executive Summary

This research quantifies the gross jobs and economic development impacts that could result from 

a 900-MW wind power plant and a 225-MW natural gas-fired power plant, both located in 

southeast Wyoming, as well as a 180-mile transmission line originating in southeast Wyoming 

and terminating in northeast Colorado. Based on the proposed Wyoming-Colorado Intertie 

Project, this scenario allows wind and natural gas-fired electricity generated in Wyoming to 

serve Colorado consumers. The projects, if implemented, are assumed to further impact the twostate region by increasing demand in the Colorado-based wind power manufacturing sector. 

The combined investment in new power sector infrastructure (wind and natural gas generation 

and high voltage transmission) considered in this analysis is estimated at $1.8 billion. Of the total 

proposed capital investment, an estimated 80% would be spent in Wyoming and Colorado. 

Operations and maintenance cost of the facilities is estimated to require ongoing annual 

investments of approximately $65 million, with 27% flowing into the combined two-state region. 

Given current economic conditions in Wyoming and Colorado, these expenditures are estimated 

to support: 

• An average of nearly 4,000 jobs annually during the projects’ three-year construction 

period–1,300 in Wyoming and 2,700 in Colorado 

• Average annual wages paid to construction period jobs supported by the projects of 

$52,000 to $75,000 

• Nearly 300 long-term jobs in Wyoming and 100 long-term jobs in Colorado that earn 

average wages between $41,000 and $63,000 annually while projects are in operation. 

• Total economic activity (gross output) of $2.4 billion during the projects’ construction 

and approximately $70 million annually during operation; assuming 20 years of 

operation, this results in a total cumulative impact of approximately $3.7 billion. 

These impacts are dependent on several factors, some of which can vary based on underlying 

economic conditions and electricity sector market conditions. Significant potential sources of 

uncertainty include capital expenditures during construction, operations and maintenance (O&M) 

expenditures, and estimates of local content during both construction and operations. 

Despite the possibility of variation in actual results, current economic conditions in the two states

are consistent with the local content assumptions made in this analysis. Moreover, industries in 

which employment has been declining would be among the most heavily impacted by these 

proposed projects, suggesting that there is sufficient flexibility to serve an incremental increase 

in demand within these sectors. In addition, the results from this study are generally consistent 

with impacts observed elsewhere in the literature and reported by communities that have 

experienced wind power development activity in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, and 

elsewhere.
ii

Table of Contents

Executive Summary..................................................................................................................................... i

Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................ ii

List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................... ii

1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 1

Recent Trends in Employment in Wyoming and Colorado ................................................................... 1

2 Project Scenario ................................................................................................................................... 3

Wind Generation: 900 MW.................................................................................................................... 3

Natural Gas-Fired Generation: 225 MW................................................................................................ 3

Transmission: 180 miles of 345 kV........................................................................................................ 4

Project Ownership: Independent Power Producer/Merchant Transmission Line................................... 4

3 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 5

4 Results................................................................................................................................................... 7

Cost and Local Sourcing Assumptions................................................................................................... 7

Tax Revenue........................................................................................................................................... 7

Landowner Income................................................................................................................................. 8

Gross Economic Output ......................................................................................................................... 9

Employment and Income Effects ......................................................................................................... 10

5 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................ 13

6 References .......................................................................................................................................... 14

Appendix A: Supplementary Background on the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority....................... 15

Appendix B: The Wyoming-Colorado Intertie Project........................................................................... 17

Wyoming-Colorado Intertie Project..................................................................................................... 17

Appendix C: Local Content Assumptions.............................................................................................. 19

List of Tables

Table 1. Anticipated Project Expenditures ($ millions) and Local Shares .................................................... 7

Table 2. Estimated Sales and Use Tax Revenue during the Construction Period ...................................... 8

Table 3. Estimated Annual Tax Revenue during the Operations Period ($ 1,000)....................................... 8

Table 4. Estimated Gross Economic Output Over the Three-Year Construction Period ($ millions) ........... 9

Table 5. Estimated Annual Gross Output from Operations and Maintenance ($ millions)......................... 10

Table 6. Annual Average Jobs Estimates Related to Construction over the Three-Year Construction 

Period ................................................................................................................................................... 11

Table 7. Long-Term Annual Jobs Estimates Related to Operations and Maintenance.............................. 12

Table 8. Combined Wyoming and Colorado Average Worker Compensation Estimates by Period and 

Impact Type.......................................................................................................................................... 12

Table C1. Regional Content Assumptions for Wind Plant .......................................................................... 19

Table C2. Domestic Content Assumptions for Transmission ..................................................................... 20

Table C3. Domestic Content Assumptions for Gas Plant ........................................................................... 20
1 

1 Introduction

New investments in power generation and transmission infrastructure provide opportunities for 

short-term and long-term economic development in the states and at the sites where the 

investments are constructed, as well as in those regions that manufacture equipment for the 

power sector (Pfeifenberger and Hou 2011; Lantz and Tegen 2011; NorthStar Economics 2009). 

Short-term economic development opportunities are typically in the form of construction and 

manufacturing activities; long-term economic development results from ongoing payments to 

landowners (e.g., wind leases), state and local government (in the form of property, sales, and 

income tax), investors, and operations and maintenance (O&M) technicians. 

Investments in renewables such as wind power are noteworthy because they often drive 

investment in rural areas where high quality resources are located (Slattery et al. 2011; Brown et 

al. 2012). In many cases, this results in opportunities for new economic development in regions 

that might otherwise be lacking sources of investment. Investments in new power generation and 

transmission infrastructure also support improvements in power system reliability and operations 

(Pfeifenberger and Hou 2011). 

New power sector investments in Wyoming and Colorado create the opportunity for economic 

development in both states. Wyoming’s high quality wind resource and Colorado’s clean energy 

manufacturing base offer the potential to capture a substantial share of the economic 

development activity from new power sector investments in wind power within the region. This 

analysis was developed to inform stakeholders of the economic development potential to 

Colorado and Wyoming from new wind and natural gas power generation in Wyoming and new 

transmission located in both states. 

This study was commissioned by the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (WIA) and follows 

previous economic development impacts analysis completed by NREL for the WIA (Lantz and 

Tegen 2011).1 This report and analysis are based on elements of the proposed WyomingColorado Intertie Project, a transmission line first considered in 2004 that would link electricity 

generation and transmission infrastructure between Wyoming and Colorado.2 Specifically, this 

analysis considers wind- and natural gas-driven electricity generation facilities located in 

Wyoming and new transmission capacity between Wyoming and Colorado. 

Recent Trends in Employment in Wyoming and Colorado

This study occurs in a year marked by relatively high unemployment and tepid job growth, both 

nationally and in Wyoming and Colorado. Wyoming observed average annual job growth of 

1.7% between 2000 and 2010. Over this same time period, Colorado observed average annual 

growth of 0.8% each year (BEA 2012). However, annual job growth has not been consistent 

within individual sectors in each state’s economy. For example, manufacturing jobs in both 

states have been declining since 2000. In Colorado, manufacturing shrank an average of 3.3% 

each year between 2000 and 2010; it decreased an average of 0.6% each year in Wyoming (BEA 

2012). In addition, from 2000 to 2010 construction sector employment was up 1.9% per year on 

average in Wyoming and down 2.0% per year on average in Colorado (BEA 2012). 

 

1 For more information about the WIA, please see Appendix A: The Wyoming Infrastructure Authority.

2 For more information about the Colorado-Wyoming Intertie Project, please see Appendix B.
2 

More recently, the economic downturn of 2008 continues to be felt. Employment data from 2010 

show year-over-year job losses of 0.7% in Wyoming and 0.3% in Colorado (BEA 2012).3 This 

amounts to nearly 14,000 jobs lost between 2009 and 2010. Particularly, the construction sector 

has been hit hard. Between 2009 and 2010, construction jobs in Wyoming decreased 0.6%, while 

they contracted 9.4% in Colorado (BEA 2012). Nevertheless, approximately 70% of the 

population over 16 years of age, in both Wyoming and Colorado, is either employed or actively 

seeking work.4 This is somewhat higher than national labor force participation, where only 65% 

of the population over 16 is active in the labor force (Census 2011a). 

The downturns described here are primarily in industries directly affected by infrastructure 

development–those that construct projects and those that manufacture machinery and equipment. 

This, in combination with high labor force participation in Wyoming and Colorado, suggests that 

a regional labor force can be utilized to develop the potential project analyzed in this report. 

 

3 These numbers include farm workers and proprietors. 4 Wyoming has a total population of 443,141 over the age of 16. Colorado has a total population of 3,937,831 over 

the age of 16 (Census 2011b).
3 

2 Project Scenario

This analysis considers potential new wind and natural gas electricity generation capacity in 

Wyoming as well as new transmission capacity in both Wyoming and Colorado. Electricity 

generated and transported by these facilities could be purchased by both Wyoming and Colorado 

utilities. The economies of Wyoming and Colorado are both expected to be affected, so potential 

impacts to both states are analyzed. 

New investments in infrastructure considered in this analysis were defined by the WIA and 

grounded in proposed projects. WIA also defined some key modeling variables, including 

expected procurement patterns for labor and wind turbines. Modeling inputs not defined by the 

WIA were estimated by NREL based on previously developed data (e.g., Lantz and Tegen 2011) 

and ongoing internal data collection. All modeling inputs have been reviewed and verified by the 

WIA and its partner organizations. Although attempts have been made to develop modeling 

inputs that reflect realistic investment levels and spending patterns, this analysis is not intended 

to be predictive of actual project specifications. Rather, it is an estimate given current plans or 

proposals. 

For this analysis, project development is modeled over two periods: construction and operations. 

Construction is a three-year period during which planning, development, and construction of the 

proposed projects will occur. Once commissioning occurs, the operation period begins; it

continues for the life of the facilities. 

Wind Generation: 900 MW

New wind generation modeled in this analysis has a nameplate capacity of 900 MW; turbines are 

nominally assumed to be 3.0 MW each. The analysis assumes that wind turbine blades, nacelles, 

and towers are manufactured in Colorado. This premise is feasible based on Colorado’s existing 

wind power manufacturing capacity, but will ultimately depend on the turbine vendor that is 

selected for this potential project. Labor and other basic materials used in the construction of the 

wind facility and procured from the two-state region are generally assumed to come from both 

states in equal proportions (e.g., 50:50). During the operating period, only wind turbine 

replacement components are sourced from Colorado. To the extent possible, general materials 

required during operations (e.g., gear oil, basic hardware, tools) are procured from Wyoming and 

operations personnel are assumed to reside in Wyoming.

Natural Gas-Fired Generation: 225 MW

A natural gas-fired generation facility with a nameplate capacity of 225 MW is also included. 

The operational efficiency and subsequent gas usage of facilities such as this can vary as a 

function of dispatch, altitude, and temperature.5 This particular plant is not assumed to provide 

direct balancing for the proposed wind generation. Instead, it is intended to utilize excess 

transmission line capacity when available. For the purpose of this scenario, it is assumed that this 

new plant has no incremental impact on natural gas production from either Wyoming or 

 

5

The authors of the study are grateful to Joseph Ferrari and Dennis Finn of Wartsila North America, Inc. for their 

valuable insight into fuel requirements for natural gas driven-electricity generation and natural gas-powered 

generators in general. 
4 

Colorado, and therefore gas production is not considered to be an additional economic 

development source in this study. Nevertheless, natural gas fuel production does constitute a 

significant source of revenue in the form of severance taxes and jobs for both states. 

Transmission: 180 miles of 345 kV

A single-circuit 900-MW, 345-kV alternating current (AC) transmission line represents the final 

component of this analysis. This line is modeled as a 180-mile line. One hundred miles are 

located in Wyoming and 80 miles are located in Colorado. The planned transmission line is 

assumed to rely on two existing substations, each requiring some improvements and upgrades. 

Project Ownership: Independent Power Producer/Merchant 

Transmission Line

For the purposes of this study, financing from outside of the Wyoming and Colorado region was 

assumed. Accordingly, debt, equity, and interest payments from project revenues are not 

considered in the economic assessment. Nevertheless, if a portion of the financing was provided 

by Colorado or Wyoming shareholders or debt providers, additional revenues and economic 

impacts could result. Premising a potential 9.25% return on capital for a 50% equity share could 

result in more than $150 million in additional income over a 20-year financing period. Were such 

income reinvested or spent locally, the resulting economic effects would be above and beyond 

those captured in this study and what is summarized in Section 4. 

A potential source of in-region or local financing includes the WIA which has $1 billion in 

bonding authority designated for the explicit purpose of financing transmission and generation 

infrastructure (Section 37-5-305 of the Wyoming Statutes).
5 

3 Methodology

This analysis relies on the suite of NREL Input-Output (I-O) models known as the Jobs and 

Economic Development Impacts (JEDI) models. JEDI Wind, JEDI Natural Gas, and JEDI 

Transmission models were used in this analysis.6

 I-O analysis is one of the most common 

methods used to estimate economic development potential from large investments in new 

infrastructure. I-O models represent a balanced set of relationships between industries, 

households and workers, governments, and other economic players within a specific region as 

well as economic players outside of the specific region that purchase exports or sell imports. 

Impact scenarios take the form of changes in demand, typically but not exclusively for the 

product of an industry or commodity. The linkages among industries and workers provided by IO models generate particularly valuable information about the level of economic activity 

typically required to fulfill the change in demand specified by a given analysis scenario. 

Although I-O analyses are widely used and recognized, relationships in I-O models are 

proportional and fixed. They do not account for changing relationships or input shares over time, 

and they assume fixed ratios of inputs regardless of the size of the change. This means that inputs 

are assumed to always be available, that prices do not change, and that scale is unrelated to 

production. In brief, I-O analyses illustrate the potential impacts of a proposed investment based 

on present conditions.

JEDI results are gross, not net. Far-reaching economic impacts, such as what might occur if 

electricity prices or property values change, are not analyzed by the model. Moreover, as I-O 

analyses only consider the impacts of a specific investment scenario, they do not consider the 

impact of a given investment relative to another alternative (i.e., they do not consider the 

opportunity cost of a given investment or set of investments). 

NREL’s JEDI models classify direct effects as onsite labor and professional services. These are 

dollars spent on labor from companies engaged in development and onsite construction and 

operation of power generation and transmission. These results include labor only—no materials.7

Companies or businesses that fall into this category of results include project developers, 

environmental and permitting consultants, road builders, concrete-pouring companies, 

construction companies, tower erection crews, crane operators, and O&M personnel. 

Indirect effects are classified as local revenues, equipment, and supply chain results. These 

reflect supporting industries or inputs and are driven by the increase in demand for goods and 

services from direct onsite project spending. Businesses and companies included in the second 

tier of economic activity include construction material and component suppliers, analysts and 

attorneys who assess project feasibility and negotiate contract agreements, banks financing the 

 

6

NREL’s JEDI models are publicly available spreadsheet tools that apply state-specific IMPLAN year 2008 

multipliers. NREL’s JEDI Transmission model has recently been developed; as the current draft model contains 

some proprietary information specific to Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain West, it has not yet been released to the 

public. The JEDI analysis tools were developed by NREL in conjunction with MRG & Associates. For more 

information on the JEDI tools, see http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi/. 7 This category is narrower than typical direct economic impacts as it focuses exclusively on onsite labor 

expenditures.
6 

projects, all equipment manufacturers (e.g., blade manufacturers), and manufacturers of 

replacement and repair parts. 

Induced effects are driven by reinvestment and spending of earnings by direct and indirect 

beneficiaries. Induced results are often associated with increased business at local restaurants, 

hotels, and retail establishments but also include childcare providers and any other entity affected 

by increased economic activity and spending occurring at the first two tiers. 

All jobs figures in this report are full time equivalents (FTE). One job is the equivalent of a 

worker employed full time over the period of one year. The construction jobs are reported 

cumulatively and averaged over a three-year construction period. These are the number of 

workers that would be required were the project to be built in one year. O&M jobs are annual 

and ongoing. These are the number of workers that would be employed each year that the project 

is in operation. 
7 

4 Results

Cost and Local Sourcing Assumptions

The natural gas and wind generation projects and new transmission line are estimated to cost 

$1.8 billion to construct, with nearly $370 million spent in Wyoming and $1.1 billion spent in 

Colorado (Table 1). Ongoing annual O&M expenditures will be approximately $65 million, with 

$9 million occurring in Wyoming and $9 million occurring in Colorado. The remaining 

expenditures–those not considered to be made locally–do not influence the economic impacts 

reported in this analysis.8 These non-local expenditures are approximately $340 million during 

the construction period and $47 million annually during the O&M period. 

Table 1. Anticipated Project Expenditures ($ millions) and Local Shares 

Construction Period Operations Period

Project Installed 

cost

Expenditures 

in Wyoming

Expenditures 

in Colorado

Annual 

O&M

Expenditures 

in Wyoming

Expenditures 

in Colorado

Transmission $200 26% 25% $7 25% 25%

Gas* $280 27% 12% $41 5% 1%

Wind $1,350 18% 77% $17 29% 42%

Total Local $370 $1,100 $9 $9

*Natural gas fuel expenditures are not included in local content.

The installed cost includes all construction costs, including labor, materials, development, 

engineering, and equipment. The largest portion of these is turbines and generators for wind- and 

gas-powered electricity, respectively. In the case of transmission lines, the conductors and their 

installation make up the largest portion of the installed cost. 

The O&M expenditures presented in Table 1 are the labor, materials, and parts needed to keep 

the generation or transmission facility operational. These expenditures do not include debt 

payments, payments to landowners, or taxes. 

Tax Revenue 

Tax revenue to governments during the O&M period is expected to come from sales/use taxes, 

property taxes, and taxes on generation. Governments in Wyoming and Colorado are estimated 

to collect approximately $88 million in sales/use taxes during the construction of the three 

projects (Table 2).9 Most sales/use tax revenue ($74 million) is associated with the wind plant, 

which requires capital-intensive wind turbines. The remaining balance is primarily from the 

capital-intensive gas generation plant ($10 million) with the transmission facility generating 

roughly $4 million in sales/use tax revenue. Because the substantial majority of new capital is 

sited in Wyoming, governments in Wyoming will collect nearly 99% of the estimated 

 

8 See Appendix C for details on local expenditure assumptions.

9 Sales/use taxes are assumed to be 6% (4% state and 2% county) in Wyoming and 2.9% (state) in Colorado. 

Estimates are specific to Plat County, Wyoming and the state of Colorado. Sales and use tax estimates are assumed 

to apply to capital goods (e.g., wind turbines) and materials only (i.e., labor expenditures are not assumed to be 

subject to sales/use tax).
8 

construction period sales/use tax revenue. Colorado will collect just over $1 million from the 

transmission project based on 80 miles of the line being located in Colorado. 

Table 2. Estimated Sales and Use Tax Revenue during the Construction Period 

Project Wyoming Sales/Use Tax 

Revenue 

($ 1,000)

Colorado Sales/Use 

Tax Revenue 

($ 1,000)

Total

Transmission $2,760 $1,050 $3,800

Gas $10,200 n/a $10,200

Wind $74,200 n/a $74,200

Total $87,200 $1,050 $88,300

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding. 

On an ongoing basis, annual tax revenue is estimated to be nearly $17 million in Wyoming and 

$1.8 million in Colorado (Table 3).10 Property taxes on wind equipment in Wyoming ($9 

million) are the largest portion of this revenue; Wyoming’s wind generation tax is estimated to 

provide nearly $4 million in additional revenue to the state. Taxes levied on natural gas 

extraction and sales are not included in these estimates. 

Table 3. Estimated Annual Tax Revenue during the Operations Period ($ 1,000)

Type Transmission Gas Wind Total 

Wyoming 

Sales/Use $14 $40 $570 $630

Generation n/a n/a $3,800 $3,800

Property $830 $1,860 $9,320 $12,000

Total $840 $1,900 $13,700 $16,450

Colorado 

Sales/Use $5 n/a n/a $5

Property $1,750 n/a n/a $1,750

Total $1,750 n/a n/a $1,750

Both States Total $2,600 $1,900 $13,700 $18,200

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding. 

Landowner Income

Landowners will benefit from the development of these three projects, although this will likely 

occur during construction for natural gas generation and transmission, while payments from 

 

10 Property tax estimates assume an average mill levy of 60 in Colorado and Wyoming. Wyoming assesses 11.5% of 

actual value; Colorado assesses 29% of actual value. The wind-driven electricity generation tax in Wyoming is 

$1/MWh; its estimate assumes a net capacity factor of 48.5% for wind. Sales/use taxes are 6% (4% state and 2% 

county) in Wyoming and 2.9% (state) in Colorado.
9 

wind generation will occur while the project is in operation. This analysis assumes that land will 

be leased for wind facilities and purchased for the natural gas generation plant and transmission 

infrastructure. One-time land purchases are estimated to be approximately $26 million; ongoing 

leases for wind turbines are estimated to be $10 million annually.

11

Gross Economic Output

Approximately $790 million in annual gross economic output in Wyoming and Colorado will be 

supported by these projects during the three-year construction period (Table 4). Over 70% of this 

output—nearly $570 million annually—will be from expenditures associated with the production 

and fabrication of the wind turbines and affiliated equipment. This assumes that turbines, blades, 

and nacelles will be manufactured in Colorado. An annual average of roughly $60 million will 

arise from onsite expenditures on Wyoming and Colorado labor and approximately $130 million 

will go to Wyoming and Colorado merchants, retailers, and service providers as onsite and 

supply chain workers make purchases in their communities. 

Table 4. Estimated Gross Economic Output Over the Three-Year Construction Period ($ millions)

Annual Average Cumulative

Transmission Gas Wind Total Total 

Project 

development 

and onsite 

labor 

Wyoming $11 $15 $9.7 $36 $110

Colorado $11 $10 $2 $24 $71

Both States $23 $25 $12 $60 $180

Turbine, 

power 

generation, 

and 

equipment 

supply chain 

Wyoming $7.4 $9.8 $83 $100 $300

Colorado $9.8 $4.9 $480 $500 $1,500

Both States $17.2 $15 $570 $600 $1,800

Induced - local 

expenditures 

Wyoming $3.2 $5.2 $14 $22 $67

Colorado $6.6 $4.1 $96 $110 $320

Both States $9.8 $9.3 $110 $130 $390

Total 

Wyoming $22 $30 $110 $160 $480

Colorado $28 $19 $580 $630 $1,900

Both States $50 $49 $690 $790 $2,400

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

The transmission line, gas plant, and wind plant will continue to contribute to Wyoming and 

Colorado economies after construction is completed. Wind will continually make the largest 

contribution ($50 million) to the roughly $70 million in annual gross output supported by the 

 

11 Landowner lease payments vary based on multiple factors; however, this estimate is based on values that are 

assumed to be broadly representative of wind projects in southeast Wyoming. These are based on conversations with 

developers and figures from Lantz and Tegen (2011).
10 

three projects (Table 5). During operations, all infrastructure types support the greatest portion of 

economic output through supply chain effects–locally purchased materials, services, parts, and 

transportation fuel. 

Assuming a 20-year life for these facilities, the total cumulative gross economic output is 

estimated at $3.7 billion. 

Table 5. Estimated Annual Gross Output from Operations and Maintenance ($ millions)

Transmission Gas Wind Total 

Onsite labor 

impacts

Wyoming $1.1 $0.72 $2.4 $4.2

Colorado $1.1 $0 $0 $1.1

Both States $2.1 $0.72 $2.4 $5.3

Local revenue 

and supply 

chain

Wyoming $1.4 $4.4 $31 $37

Colorado $1.9 $0.45 $10 $13

Both States $3.4 $4.9 $41 $50

Induced - local 

expenditures 

Wyoming $0.58 $1.1 $6.8 $8.5

Colorado $1.7 $0.13 $2.3 $4.2

Both States $2.3 $1.2 $9.1 $13

Total 

Wyoming $3.1 $6.2 $41 $50

Colorado $4.7 $0.59 $12 $18

Both States $7.8 $6.8 $53 $68

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Employment and Income Effects

The increase in economic activity that occurs during the three-year construction period will 

support an annual average of nearly 4,000 FTE jobs in Colorado and Wyoming (Table 3). The 

majority of these jobs--2,400--will be in industries that supply inputs, while approximately 700 

jobs will be onsite or otherwise directly involved with the projects’ construction. This difference

between the number of onsite and supply chain/input jobs is driven largely by the wind plant. 

Significantly more labor is required to manufacture major wind turbine components (i.e., blades, 

towers, and nacelles) than to install them. These results assume that turbine components will be 

manufactured in Colorado while purchases of other basic construction materials and labor will be 

split between Colorado and Wyoming. 

Notably the largest contributor to onsite labor during the construction period is the transmission 

project. This result is a function of the relative share of direct labor expenditures for development 

and construction of transmission lines as compared with wind and natural gas. Because of its 

greater construction labor intensity, the transmission project actually results in more onsite jobs 

than the larger and more capital-intensive wind power project. 
11 

Table 6. Annual Average Jobs Estimates Related to Construction over the Three-Year 

Construction Period 

Annual Average Cumulative

Transmission Gas Wind Total Total 

Project 

development 

and onsite 

labor 

Wyoming 176 103 151 430 1,291

Colorado 174 71 25 270 809

Both States 350 174 176 700 2,099

Turbine, 

power 

generation, 

and 

equipment 

supply chain

Wyoming 37 47 569 654 1,962

Colorado 48 27 1,676 1,751 5,252

Both States 85 74 2,245 2,404 7,214

Induced – 

local 

expenditures

Wyoming 26 40 112 178 544

Colorado 44 28 631 703 2,108

Both States 69 68 743 881 2,652

Total 

Wyoming 239 191 832 1,262 3,797

Colorado 266 125 2,332 2,723 8,169

Both States 504 317 3,164 3,985 11,966

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Nearly 400 long-term jobs will be supported each year through the proposed projects (Table 5). 

Half of these are involved in the supply chain, which includes lease payments to landowners as 

well as the production and assembly of replacement parts for the facilities’ equipment. 

Approximately 90 jobs are directly involved with operating and maintaining facilities. Local 

expenditures made by onsite personnel, supply chain workers, and landowners support an 

additional 100 jobs. 
12 

Table 7. Long-Term Annual Jobs Estimates Related to Operations and Maintenance

Transmission Gas Wind Total 

Onsite labor 

impacts

Wyoming 17 11 41 70

Colorado 17 - - 17

Both States 35 11 41 87

Local revenue 

and supply 

chain impacts

Wyoming 11 16 121 148

Colorado 12 3 39 55

Both States 23 19 160 203

Induced – 

local 

expenditures 

Wyoming 5 9 55 69

Colorado 11 1 15 28

Both States 16 10 70 96

Total 

Wyoming 33 36 217 286

Colorado 41 4 54 99

Both States 74 40 271 386

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Jobs supported by this development are well compensated (Table 3). In 2010, the average 

income of working individuals in Wyoming was $46,442 annually and $51,498 in Colorado 

(BEA 2010).12 Only indirect and induced jobs from O&M have compensation that is below state 

averages. Induced jobs typically fall in to service or retail industries; this result is consistent with 

expected income within these industries. 

Table 8. Combined Wyoming and Colorado Average Worker Compensation Estimates by Period 

and Impact Type

Construction Operations and Maintenance

Direct – onsite $75,000 $62,000

Indirect – supply chain $74,000 $50,000

Induced – local expenditures $52,000 $41,000

Total $69,000 $50,000

 

12 These income figures include wage and salary income, self-employment income, and supplements to wage and 

salary income such as employer contributions to retirement funds and insurance. This definition is comparable to the 

definition of compensation in Table 6. 
13 

5 Conclusions 

Electricity generation and transmission projects in Wyoming and Colorado have the potential to 

support an average of nearly 4,000 jobs annually while under construction and nearly 400 longterm jobs in industries such as manufacturing and O&M in Colorado and Wyoming. Total 

economic output within the two states is estimated to be an average of $790 million annually 

during construction and $70 million per year during operations. The cumulative 20-year impact 

is estimated at $3.7 billion. 

Approximately 32% of construction period jobs and 74% of operations period jobs will be in 

Wyoming; 68% of construction period jobs will be supported in Colorado as well as 26% of 

operations jobs. Wind power constitutes the largest share of local Wyoming and Colorado 

economic activity during both construction and operations. During the construction period, the 

greatest impact is in Colorado’s wind manufacturing supply chain primarily in the form of 

manufacturing of replacement parts and equipment, while during operations, the impact is 

distributed more evenly with Wyoming seeing impacts in the form of onsite O&M employment 

property tax payments, wind generation tax payments, and landowner lease payments. Wind’s 

dominant role in terms of driving economic impacts in this scenario is a function of the capital 

expenditure requirements for the wind facility relative to the gas and transmission lines during 

construction and operations, as well as the ability of Colorado’s clean energy manufacturing 

sector to contribute to these projects. 

These results can be compared with those determined elsewhere in the literature. Total dollars 

invested in the two-state region per FTE estimated in this study are estimated at approximately 

$120,000/FTE during construction and $45,000/FTE during operations. The higher dollars per 

FTE reported during construction results from the relatively capital-intensive nature of these 

projects, particularly in the wind and natural gas facilities. Lantz and Tegen (2012) estimated 

dollars invested in Wyoming per FTE from a similar, larger scenario to be $105,000/FTE during 

construction and $50,000/FTE during operations. Focusing just on the construction of 

transmission, this study estimates approximately $66,000/FTE while Pfeifenberger and Hou 

(2011) estimated approximately $65,000/FTE. Taking a closer look at operations-related 

employment from wind, this study indicates that onsite labor will result in approximately 0.2 

jobs per MW and an approximately $10,000/MW increase in individual earnings in the state of 

Wyoming. These results are similar to those estimated by a broad-based empirical study (Brown 

et al. 2012) which found that wind projects completed between 2000 and 2008 boosted median 

county level employment by 0.5 jobs/MW and personal income by approximately $11,000/MW. 

Wind related infrastructure investments have also been observed anecdotally to result in 

significant new business activity in the localities where projects are sited. Communities such as 

Sweetwater and Abilene, Texas (Slattery et al., 2011, Pedden 2006) and Prowers County 

Colorado (Baranowski 2004) as well as others in Southwest, Minnesota and Iowa (GAO 2004) 

have all reported economic development activity that, absent the manufacturing activity that is 

captured here, are generally aligned with estimated wind related impacts projected here.
14 

6 References

Baranowski, R. (2004). Wind Energy For Rural Economic Development. DOE/GO-102004-1826 

Brown, J.; Pender, J.; Wiser, R.; Lantz, E.; Hoen, B. (forthcoming). “Ex Post Analysis of 

Economic Impacts from Wind Power Development in U.S. Counties.” Energy Economics. 

Government Accountability Office. (2004). Renewable energy: Wind power’s contribution to 

electric power generation and impact on farms and rural communities. GAO-04-756.Lantz, E.; 

Tegen, S. (2011). Jobs and economic development from new generation and transmission in 

Wyoming. NREL/TP-6A20-50577. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory . 

Lantz, E.; Tegen, S. (2011). Jobs and Economic Development from New Transmission and 

Generation in Wyoming. 73 pp.; NREL Report No. TP-6A20-50577. 

NorthStar Economics Incorporated. (2009). The Economic Impact of Electric Power 

Transmission Line Construction In The Midwest. NorthStar Economics. Prepared for the 

American Transmission Company. 

Pedden, M. 2006. Analysis: economic impacts of wind applications in rural communities.

NREL/SR-500-39099. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

Pfeifenberger, J.; Hou, D. (2011). Employment and Economic Benefits of Transmission 

Infrastructure Investment in the U.S. and Canada. The Brattle Group. Prepared for the Working 

Group for Investment in Reliable and Economic Electric Systems (WIRES). 

Slattery, M.; Lantz, E.; Richards, B. (2011). “State and local economic impacts from wind 

energy projects: Texas case study.” Energy Policy (39); pp. 7930-7940. 

“Table SA04 - State income or employment summary.” (2012). Bureau of Economic Analysis 

(BEA). Retrieved from http://bea.gov/regional/index.htm. 

 “2010 Decennial Census.” (2011). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved from 

http://factfinder2.census.gov. 

 “2006-2010 American Community Survey.” (2011). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved from 

http://factfinder2.census.gov/. 
15 

Appendix A: Supplementary Background on the 

Wyoming Infrastructure Authority 

On August 22, 2003, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal and Utah Governor Mike Leavitt 

announced the formation of the Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study (RMATS). The governors 

found that: 

For many years, utilities and other entities have been reluctant to make investments in 

needed electric transmission infrastructure. This was due to a number of factors, including 

protracted uncertainties in the regulatory environment and nascent regional transmission 

organizations under development. As a consequence of this lack of transmission expansion, 

transmission congestion and bottlenecks were increasing. While this was a problem 

throughout the western interconnect, it was becoming an acute issue in areas of the Rocky 

Mountain sub-region (State of Wyoming 2004, pp. 1-5–1-6).

The governors directed that a charter be developed for the study that specified goals, principles, and 

operating procedures. The study covered several western states including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 

Utah, and Wyoming. 

Emerging from these efforts, the WIA was established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2004 to 

diversify and expand the state’s economy through improvements in the electric transmission system 

to resolve constraints and create new capacity for the export of Wyoming resources in the form of 

electricity. The legislation authorizes the WIA to plan, finance, construct, develop, acquire, own, 

maintain, and operate transmission infrastructure within and outside the State of Wyoming. Also, the 

legislation provided the WIA with bonding authority of $1 billion and other powers to promote 

transmission development in the state and throughout the region. It also provided the State Treasurer 

with the approval of the State Loan and Investment Board and the authority to invest in WIA bonds. 

To date, the WIA has closed a private placement of $34.5 million in bonds with the Wyoming State 

Treasurer for a transmission-related project. 

In order to encourage and assure the development of new transmission originating in Wyoming, the 

WIA, in support of the findings and recommendations from the RMATS report (State of Wyoming 

2004), became a partner in various planning and project efforts within two years of the release of the 

report. In addition to its operating budgets, the legislature authorized the State Treasury to advance

up to $10 million to the WIA in the form of loans to be used for project development purposes. Two 

million dollars has been drawn to date and has been expended on specific project development 

initiatives. 
16 

The governing body of the authority is composed of a five-member Board of Directors appointed by 

the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Wyoming State Senate. Current Board Members 

and staff are as follows: 

• Mike Easley (Chairman), CEO of Powder River Energy Corporation in Sundance, WY 

• Kyle White (Vice-Chairman), Vice President, Regulatory Affairs for Black Hills Corporation 

in Rapid City, SD 

• Bryce Freeman (Treasurer), Director of the Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate in 

Cheyenne, WY

• J.M. Shafer (Member), Professional Engineer in Windsor, CO and former executive with 

Western Area Power Administration and Tri-State Generation and Transmission 

• David Sparks (Member), Executive Vice President, TransCore in Jackson, WY 

Current staff consists of: 

• Loyd Drain, Executive Director 

• Holly Martinez, Administrative Manager 
17 

Appendix B: The Wyoming-Colorado Intertie Project

Wyoming-Colorado Intertie Project 

In the fall of 2005, a public/private partnership consisting of the WIA, Trans-Elect Development 

Company (Trans-Elect), and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) was formed to consider 

the expansion of transmission capacity across the long-standing transmission constraint along the 

Wyoming-Colorado border known as TOT 3. Today, the project is known as the Wyoming-Colorado 

Intertie (WCI) Project, which was suggested for development by a consensus of regional 

stakeholders in the Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study (State of Wyoming 2004). On behalf 

of the partnership in November 2005, WAPA posted a solicitation of interest in the federal register to 

gain a measure of interest in the project. On the basis of the robust response to the WAPA posting, 

the parties were sufficiently encouraged to proceed with studies. Trans-Elect subsequently assigned 

their interest to an affiliate of AES Corporation (AES), and in 2009, an LS Power Affiliate (LS 

Power) acquired the WCI project from AES. LS Power and WIA continue to maintain a 50/50 

partnership for the development stage of the WCI project. 

Figure B1. Proposed routing of the WCI project

Source: Wyoming Infrastructure Authority

The project partners have completed a series of technical, cost, and market fundamentals studies with 

independent consultants. These studies were utilized to create system design, determine project costs, 
18 

identify potential corridors and configurations, develop project schedules, ascertain permitting 

requirements, and assess the competitive position of the WCI. Simultaneously, the project partners 

have held a number of public and individual meetings with generation developers and utilities to 

assess the market demand and the project’s economic feasibility. The project feasibility assessments 

have taken advantage of input from stakeholders to gauge support for the project as well as other 

studies that have been or are being conducted within the TOT 3 area, including the Colorado LongRange Transmission Plan, developed under the auspices of the Colorado Coordinated Planning 

Group (CCPG), and the Wyoming Joint Queue Study. 

Activities have confirmed the presence of large amounts of wind generation projects under 

development along the path of the WCI project that are expected to have high quality wind regimes. 

The development of the WCI project is expected to be capable of providing low-cost wind energy 

and add geographic diversity to Colorado’s wind energy supply. The WCI project may offer 

increased reliability, relieve an existing transmission constraint, and increase firm transmission 

capacity to neighboring systems. 

In July 2011, Wyoming Wind and Power (WWP) filed an application to acquire 100% of the 

capacity on WCI. Subsequent to that date, LS Power (the lead developer under a joint development 

agreement) negotiated a Transmission Service Agreement with WWP and an application was filed 

with FERC for approval (pending). 

The WIA has commissioned the University of Wyoming to analyze the geographic diversity of wind 

in Wyoming compared to Colorado, which shows that such diversity exists. The report is posted on 

the WIA’s website at: http://wyia.org/documents/reports . 

WCI Project at a Glance: 

• 345 kV HVAC 

• Capacity: 850 MW 

• Length: 180-mile transmission line between Wyoming and the Colorado front range 

delivering Wyoming generation to Colorado 

• In-service date: 2014 

• Cost: < $300 million 

• Developers: LS Power (Lead Developer) and the WIA 

• WECC Path Rating Process: Phase I complete; currently in Phase II 

• ROW & Permitting Status: Will proceed after the awarding of capacity 

• Status:

o FERC approval to sell transmission rights at negotiated rates 

o FERC approved open access transmission tariff 

o Project has been entered into the WECC CCPG regional planning group 

o Wyoming Wind and Power has made application to acquire 100% of the capacity; 

approval pending at FERC 

• Business Model: independent model, end market(s): Load serving entities (i.e., retail 

electricity providers) in Colorado 

• Complementary Projects: Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCO)’s expansion of their 

system in northeast Colorado and the High Plains Express. 

• Contact: Adam Gassaway, agassaway@lspower.com, 636-532-2200 www.WCIntertie.com. 
19 

Appendix C: Local Content Assumptions

The tables below reflect local content assumptions utilized in this analysis. Content that is not 

local is not included in the reported economic impact estimates. These are based on expected 

procurement patterns as defined by the WIA as well as NREL estimates based on previously 

developed data (e.g., Lantz and Tegen 2011) and ongoing internal data collection. All modeling 

inputs have been reviewed and verified by the WIA and its partner organizations. 

Table C1. Regional Content Assumptions for Wind Plant

Construction Share of Cost (%) Wyoming Wind Colorado Wind

Turbine Equipment 75% 0% 99%

BOP Material 16% 81% 8%

BOP Labor 6% 55% 19%

Development Other Costs 3% 54% 5%

Construction Total 100% 18% 77%

Operations and Maintenance Share of Cost (%) Wyoming Wind Colorado Wind

Operations Personnel 15% 100% 0%

Operations Materials and 

Services (less replacement 

parts)

31% 41% 0%

Operations Replacement Parts 54% 2% 80%

Operations Total 100% 29% 42%
20 

Table C2. Domestic Content Assumptions for Transmission

Construction Share of Cost (%) Wyoming T-Line Colorado T-Line

Line Materials 35% 5% 5%

Line Labor 31% 46% 46%

Facilities Materials 8% 10% 10%

Facilities Labor 10% 26% 26%

ROW Payments 7% 56% 44%

Services 10% 27% 25%

Total 100% 26% 25%

Operations and Maintenance Share of Cost (%) Wyoming T-Line Colorado T-Line

Operations Personnel 33% 50% 50%

Operations Materials and 

Services 61% 13% 13%

Operations Replacement 

Equipment 6% 5% 5%

Total 100% 25% 25%

Table C3. Domestic Content Assumptions for Gas Plant

Construction Share of Cost (%) Wyoming Gas Colorado Gas

Facility and Equipment 60% 12% 4%

Labor and Management 27% 10% 10%

Other Costs (development, 

interconnection, etc) 13% 59% 5%

Total 100% 24% 12%

Operations and Maintenance Share of Cost (%) Wyoming Gas Colorado Gas

Fixed O&M 33% 88% 7%

Variable O&M (excluding fuel) 67% 14% 1%

Total 100% 39% 3%