POLICYWATCH
EPA: No Plans for Own Carbon Trading Program
The Obama administration has no plans to set up a “cap-and-trade” program for greenhouse gases under existing law if Congress doesn’t pass legislation doing so, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in remarks at the National Press Club in Washington.
9Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Energy Groups Relieved Sage Grouse will
Not be Listed
Friday’s announcement by the Interior Department that it won’t list the bird as an endangered or threatened species has energy industries operating in the West breathing a little easier. The oil and gas, wind and solar industries will still face scrutiny in sage grouse habitat but much less so than if the bird had made the list.
8Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Wind Energy Bills Signed by Freudenthal
Wyoming will have more authority over the siting and development of wind farms and the state will begin taxing the energy source under bills that Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed into law Friday. The $1-per-megawatt-hour tax on wind energy generated in the state goes into effect in 2012.
6Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Casper Economic Forecast —
Wyoming News is Mostly Grim
A new pipeline was the most uplifting report at the gathering, while how much things have changed during the last two years was highlighted by Buck McVeigh, administrator of the Economic Analysis Division for the State of Wyoming.
3Mar2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
State and Industry Await Sage Grouse Decision
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision on whether to protect the greater sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act should be announced by Friday, according to government officials. An Idaho judge has ordered a decision by Friday in a case brought by an environmental group.
28Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
House Committee Moves State Wind Tax to
Full Senate
With support from Gov. Freudenthal, the State House already passed HB 101. If eventually approved by the Senate, the measure would impose a $1.00 per megawatt hour excise tax on wind energy production.
25Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Wyoming: New Wrinkle in Eminent Domain?
Platte County rancher Bob Whitton likens the power of eminent domain to brandishing a gun in an argument. “The threat is there without having to use it,” said Whitton, chairman of the Renewable Energy Alliance of Landowners, or REAL. Wyoming leaders are once again rethinking the power of eminent domain in the midst of a modest boom in wind energy.
22Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
The Politics of Natural Gas: Ignoring the Obvious
Expanding its role in the nation’s energy landscape should be a policy priority because it is one of the least expensive and biggest payback options on the table. It makes more sense for the $8 billion heading to the nuclear industry to be spent, instead, on developing more natural gas fueling locations, and converting city, county and state fleets to CNG power?
17Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Wyoming Debates Excise Tax for Wind Energy
Gov. Dave Freudenthal made the wind energy tax a centerpiece of his legislative agenda, drawing surprise and alarm from some in the state’s fledgling wind industry. The proposal cleared its first hurdle last last week when the state House voted to introduce the bill.
15Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Governor’s Wind Energy Bills Find Sponsors
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 the support of five co-sponsors from both the House and Senate.
10Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Public Meeting on Feb 24th for White Mountain Wind Project
Teton Wind is proposing to construct up to 240 wind turbines on roughly 13,165 acres atop White Mountain, which lies west and northwest of Rock Springs.
9Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
State Seeks Public Comment on Proposed
Wind Development Changes
Wyoming officials say the key change — a modification of how surface damages are paid - should benefit both wind energy developers and existing state land lessees. Wyoming is seeking public comment on the new rules during hearings that will be held throughout next month.
8Feb2010 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
