Sidewinder Explained
Sidewinder Project
The Sidewinder Project is a proposed large-scale energy development in Niobrara County, Wyoming, aimed at producing “green hydrogen”—a type of fuel created using electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar. That hydrogen would then be used to make synthetic aviation fuel, mostly for export out of state.
To power this operation, the project would build a major renewable energy complex across wide swaths of prairie land—including wind turbines, transmission lines, solar fields, roads, fences, and a hydrogen production facility. It would use local water resources and require new infrastructure to move hydrogen out of the area.
While developers frame it as a clean energy solution, many residents are concerned about the scale, speed, and long-term impacts of the project—especially when it comes to water use, wildlife habitat, land disruption, safety, and the lack of meaningful local input.
In short, Sidewinder is not just a few wind turbines—it’s an industrial footprint that could change Niobrara County for decades.
Key Details
According to publicly available filings and statements by the developer, Sidewinder will include:
- A wind farm of unspecified scale—potentially up to 100 or more turbines, each over 500 feet tall, based on similar proposals from the developer.
- A solar array spanning thousands of acres.
- A green hydrogen production facility powered by wind and solar, designed to split water molecules into hydrogen using electrolysis.
- Construction of roads, substations, transmission lines, fencing, and pipelines, altering the physical and ecological landscape.
The project is anticipated to cover tens of thousands of acres of open ranchland, with construction beginning as early as 2026, pending local and state approval.