Landowner Says Wind Turbines Negatively Impact Earthworms, Scientists Agree

CHEYENNE — In an unincorporated part of western Laramie County known as Horse Creek, landowner Ryan Schneider is worried about Wyoming’s earthworms.

He believes wind turbines create vibrations that could potentially lead to the displacement of earthworms, making them easy prey for birds and other predators. He said the vibrations may eventually erode the soil from a lack of oxidization from the earthworms.

“Huge swaths of land [will] be losing this crucial aeration creature,” Schneider told Laramie County officials last week. “That’s been a concern of mine. I’m not a farmer myself, but I do support my neighbors who are — and ranchers — and this has been on my mind.”

Schneider relayed these concerns to the Laramie County Planning Commission, where he was one of among roughly 100 communit