Updated by Staff

As the Wyoming State Legislature moves forward with its agenda this term, it is interesting to note that each of Gov. Freudenthal’s proposals about wind energy he recently set forth have found sponsors  and have been assigned bill numbers. 

Yesterday the proposed bill which would create a $3-per-megawatt-hour tax on electricity generating from wind turbines, was submitted and assigned a bill number. The proposal may be controversial but that hasn’t stopped it from receiving support from five co-sponsors from both the House and Senate. Another controversial proposal would impose a one-year moratorium on wind energy companies’ eminent domain powers.

Sen. John Schiffer, R-Kaycee, has submitted a bill independent of the governor that would go even further by permanently limiting eminent domain powers for power lines only to public utilities, electric co-ops, and transmission line associations.

Freudenthal’s other two proposals, combined in one piece of legislation, would create a set of minimum standards — such as buffer zones between wind turbines and other existing facilities — and require developers of wind farms with 30 or more turbines to provide bonding or other financial assurances to ensure decommissioning and reclamation.