WSP10086

• File Number: 8040.100
• Description: Section D General Studies - Power
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 3/1/1976
• Author: HUD
• Title: Rapid Growth from Energy Projects - Ideas for State and Local Action
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

OOIOI?

Wyoming Comprehensive Plan of 1972 estimated 800
additional construction workers. The actual number
of workers at the plant by 1974 was over 3,000, and
the 1995 population projections were exceeded by
1975'4

OK now/edge of the number of employees is not as
critical as defining impacts and the roles of public and
private agencies. "
- Mayor of impacted Western town

With this quote in mind, the following guidelines
are offered for getting and using information:

Regional socia-economic studies are important for
national and regional policies, but must be supple-
mented by specific local information.
Specific studies have to be made of each community
and of each project proposal.
These studies should identify ranges of impacts to
be responsive to likely changes in magnitude and
timing.
Close cooperation on plans and information is
needed between energy companies and the local
governments.
Communities must recognize the interests of the
energy and construction companies - low labor
force turnover, and high productivity. Con-
versely, the interests of the local community must
also be recognized - growth at a manageable rate.
The emphasis of community leaders has to be on
setting goals and objectives, preparing a growth
management plan, and seeing that it is carried out
(See Chapter II - Growth Management).

C. IDEAS FOR UNDERSTANDING IMPACTS

Information from Industry: Southwest Wyoming
Industrial Association (SWIA)
One of the major problems in Sweetwater County,
Wyoming was the lack of information from industry
about future plans. The problem was compounded by
the presence of 12 companies - in coal, electricity
generation and trona mining. In conjunction with
the formation of the Sweetwater County Priorities
Board (See page 14), the 12 companies formed the
Southwest Wyoming Industrial Association.
The purpose of this group is to facilitate coordina-
tion between local industry and local governments.
ThiS is done by preparation of a two-year plan of
information gathering and presentation. The SWIA
holds quarterly public meetings with local officials to
present employment projections for the coming year.
To assure confidentiality, individual company projec-
tions have been combined.

The Association is governed by two committees:
the Operating Committee, which consists of the local
managers of 12 industries, and the Executive Com-
mittee which includes headquarters representatives
for each. A full-time executive director serves as
the primary liaison for the Association.

Contact: Ernie Mecca, Executive Director, South-
west Wyoming Industrial Association,
638 Elias Avenue, Rock Springs, Wyoming
82901, [phone]

Call for Voluntary Information: State of New Jersey
As part of its planning for the Coastal Area, the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
needs information on all potential energy proiects.
To obtain this information, it is putting out a "Call
for Submission of Information, Recommendations and
Suggestions for Coastal Planning for Energy and Energy
Related Facilities in New Jersey."
This call goes out on a regular basis to all public
utilities operating within the State of New Jersey, and
to all energy companies whkh have expressed an
interest in projects, primarily nuclear power plants,
support facilities for offshore oil and gas, and LNG
conversion plants. Information requested includes
the following:

physical requirements for facilities
analysis of potential locations
summary analysis of potential environmental and
economic impact on the coastal zone
identification of the employment created, in both
construction and operation
assessment of the impact on population growth
status of land acquisition

The information will remain confidential, used
only for total coastal area estimates.

Contact: David Kinsey, CAFRA Coordinator,
New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, P.O. Box 1390, Trenton, New
Jersey 08625, [phone]

In some states, this information flow has been form-
alized and is required, not voluntary_ In the case of
electricity generating projects, State public utility
commi'SSion':> require showing,:> of need on the part of
the utilities proposing new projects (for example, the
California Public Utility Commission's procedures for
issuance of "Certificates of Convenience and Neces-
sity"). While these indicate total levels of demand, in
many States "siting review agencies" have been created
to deal with location issues.

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