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Cheyenne city officials are weighing energy development at the sprawling Belvoir Ranch, including a potential utility-scale solar build that one bidder says could generate roughly $500,000 a year in lease revenue. The proposal—if it moves forward—would reframe use of a largely undeveloped parcel and has immediate implications for the city budget, land management and local energy planning.
The Belvoir property covers about 18,800 acres west of Cheyenne, running between the Union Pacific tracks and Interstate 80 and stretching toward the Colorado line in an area known as the Big Hole. City leaders have gradually shaped the ranch for mixed uses since planning efforts began in 2008, setting aside significant acreage for wind projects while opening parts of the land to public trails earlier this summer.
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What developers are proposing
At a recent council work session, Councilor Tom Segrave said one prospective lessee described a multi-phase solar plan, with an initial stage of roughly 1,200 acres. That early phase—if leased to the city for the typical multi-decade term being discussed—could produce the six-figure annual payment cited by the company.
City staff and elected officials say no agreements are in place. If the administration pursues a deal, a common structure under consideration would be a long-term lease of about 25 years, covering a portion of the ranch that is not visible from the publicly accessible trail network.
Technical and planning hurdles
Developers have flagged the ground itself as a practical constraint. The ranch’s subsoil contains a high concentration of rock, which complicates the standard anchoring systems used to secure large solar arrays and raises construction costs.
Besides the large-scale solar pitch, councilors reported interest from several other parties proposing smaller projects. Those include a proposed battery storage installation and a natural gas–fired power plant concept— the latter reportedly benefitting from some existing energy infrastructure left over from earlier projects on the ranch.
- Potential revenue: Developer estimate for Phase 1 roughly $500,000 per year.
- Project scale: Phase one approximately 1,200 acres; further phases possible.
- Lease term: Likely around 25 years if approved.
- Key obstacle: Rocky soil complicates panel anchoring and raises costs.
- Other proposals: Battery storage facility and a smaller natural gas plant under discussion.
For the city, there are clear trade-offs: additional revenue and regional energy capacity against construction impacts, long-term land commitments and potential changes to recreation or wildlife habitat. Officials have tried to build the ranch as a multipurpose asset—balancing public access, conservation, water storage and energy development—and any new lease would be evaluated through that lens.
In June the mayor was authorized to open the property to more extensive environmental study to improve baseline data and make the land more marketable. That work is intended to inform negotiations and identify constraints before council votes on any lease arrangements.
At present, Cheyenne is still in the exploratory phase: more proposals are expected, environmental assessments are underway and no lease has been finalized. Residents can expect further discussion at upcoming council meetings as officials weigh financial benefits against long-term stewardship of the Belvoir Ranch.
