Question 1

Will this line lower my electric bill?

Accepted Answer

Probably not directly. It was built mainly to carry Wyoming wind to markets in the Southwest, so most of what stays in-state shows up as tax revenue and construction jobs rather than a smaller Rocky Mountain Power bill.

Question 2

Why direct current instead of a normal line?

Accepted Answer

Over very long distances, high voltage direct current loses less energy than ordinary alternating current. That makes it attractive for a haul of several hundred miles, at the cost of building converter stations at each end.

Question 3

Is the wind farm the same thing as the line?

Accepted Answer

No, but they are linked. The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind project near Rawlins and the TransWest line are separate companies under related ownership, built so the wind power has a path to customers.

Question 4

When will it be finished?

Accepted Answer

At last public word the developer pointed to roughly 2027. Large transmission schedules slip often, so treat any single year as a target rather than a promise.

Question 5

Does Wyoming get anything from power that leaves the state?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Wyoming levies a wind electricity generation tax of about one dollar per megawatt hour, the only state with one, and it generally applies after a turbine has been running for a few years.

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The 732-mile outlet takes shape