It might not be long before companies like Green House Data of Cheyenne can get wind power from just down the road.

The Slater Wind Energy Association is one of several such groups cropping up in southeastern Wyoming.

Over the weekend, association members were expected to review proposals for developing wind energy on 28,000 acres between Chugwater and Wheatland.

"Some of the best wind in the world for wind energy development," proclaimed Grant Stumbough, southeastern Resource Conservation and Development coordinator. The Slater area has a 46 percent capacity factor, which means 46 percent of the time, a turbine can operate at maximum capacity.

"That's really good," he said.

So good, in fact, that wind velocity has become a point of pride.

A decade ago, a rancher might have boasted about the absence of wind on his place. "Now they're fighting just the other way: 'Well, we've got class 7 winds and you've only got class 4 winds,' " Stumbough said.

Interstate 25 and a railroad line are close to the Slater area, along with good roads used to accommodating missile silo traffic, so getting turbines to sites shouldn't be an issue.

The Slater association consists of about 45 landowners. By banding together, the group can bargain collectively for favorable terms, Stumbough said.

The Slater association sent out requests for proposals to about 30 wind developers, together with a description of payments landowners would like to see.

Compensation could take several forms, including lease payments, construction payments and royalties as a percentage of gross revenues.

Stumbough said there's lots of enthusiasm about wind development: "If this thing goes through, there's going to be some pretty healthy profits by these landowners. I look at it as ag diversity."

At present, not enough transmission lines serve the area, but Stumbough said that problem should be solved as interest in wind energy grows.

Steve Waddington, executive director of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, said an "open season" to offer capacity on the Wyoming-Colorado Intertie is planned for early 2008. Several wind developers are preparing to participate. The project is designed to move wind power from eastern Wyoming to the Denver market.

"Hopefully, we'll get enough support for that line that we'll take further steps to develop it," Waddington said.

"All the indications are we think it's going to be a success, but we won't know until after we go through the process," he added.

The state also is working on a much bigger transmission project with PacifiCorp, Arizona Public Service and National Grid that would begin in the Casper area, run through Salt Lake City and end in Phoenix.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574.