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“Wyoming is a great wind state and we produce a lot of wind energy. We also produce a lot of conventional energy, many times our needs. The electricity generate

“Wyoming is a great wind state and we produce a lot of wind energy. We also produce a lot of conventional energy, many times our needs. The electricity generated by coal is amongst the least expensive in the country. We want Wyoming residences to benefit from this inexpensive electrical generation. We do not want to be averaged into the other states that require a certain [percentage] of more expensive renewable energy.” Edit: quote is from Bill sponsor

noobermin 10y ago
Are there any Wyoming people here who can comment on the feasibility of this passing? This is crony capitalism, government choosing "winners and losers", at its finest.
- fovc 10y ago
  Not from WY, but have tried looking. The best source I've been able to find is: https://boingboing.net/2017/01/22/wyoming-bill-prohibits-power-c.html https://boingboing.net/2017/01/22/wyoming-bill-prohibits-pow..., Which states it's not expected to pass
- barney54 10y ago
  I'm not from Wyoming, but laws that mandate certain electricity sources are pretty common: http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Renewable-Portfolio-Standards.pdf http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2...
- jessaustin 10y ago
  Not from Wyoming, but this seems like a classic disagreement between the average state resident (or rather, the industry that has purchased her legislator) and some exceptional municipality. Since it's Wyoming I'm guessing Jackson Hole. Probably they wanted to have something nice to brag about to coastal rich people conflicted about vacationing in a red state, so they were going to require local ratepayers to purchase some percentage of "clean" energy. Outlawing this sort of local arrangement is just the sort of thing that state governments do. We've seen a lot of state laws outlawing public internet service, for example.
  - panzagl 10y ago
    People downvoting you don't understand how Western states work- California money has a pretty big effect in the big square states.
    - jessaustin 10y ago
      They might also have assumed that I approve of states interfering with municipalities this way. No way: I'm for complete decentralization. Of course that means I'm also against municipalities decreeing that one type of power will be available rather than another, but I figure people can work at a local level or vote with their feet rather than enlisting state or federal interference.
jedimastert 10y ago
> The electricity generated by coal is amongst the least expensive in the country. Is coal less expensive than wind or solar? It probably is, but I don't know where to look up such data.
int_19h 10y ago
If that was actually the rationale, the law would mandate utilities to use the cheapest available source, whatever that happens to be at any given point; not provide a fixed list of sources. So, it's really just an excuse.
ue_ 10y ago
I'm always astounded about what people will do for profit. To destroy the planet, or even to keep doing it, for the purpose of keeping people employed. The 'free market' doesn't fix this behavior. Thanks capitalism.

noobermin 10y ago

Are there any Wyoming people here who can comment on the feasibility of this passing? This is crony capitalism, government choosing "winners and losers", at its finest.

fovc 10y ago
Not from WY, but have tried looking. The best source I've been able to find is: https://boingboing.net/2017/01/22/wyoming-bill-prohibits-power-c.html https://boingboing.net/2017/01/22/wyoming-bill-prohibits-pow..., Which states it's not expected to pass
barney54 10y ago
I'm not from Wyoming, but laws that mandate certain electricity sources are pretty common: http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Renewable-Portfolio-Standards.pdf http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2...
jessaustin 10y ago
Not from Wyoming, but this seems like a classic disagreement between the average state resident (or rather, the industry that has purchased her legislator) and some exceptional municipality. Since it's Wyoming I'm guessing Jackson Hole. Probably they wanted to have something nice to brag about to coastal rich people conflicted about vacationing in a red state, so they were going to require local ratepayers to purchase some percentage of "clean" energy. Outlawing this sort of local arrangement is just the sort of thing that state governments do. We've seen a lot of state laws outlawing public internet service, for example.
- panzagl 10y ago
  People downvoting you don't understand how Western states work- California money has a pretty big effect in the big square states.
  - jessaustin 10y ago
    They might also have assumed that I approve of states interfering with municipalities this way. No way: I'm for complete decentralization. Of course that means I'm also against municipalities decreeing that one type of power will be available rather than another, but I figure people can work at a local level or vote with their feet rather than enlisting state or federal interference.

jedimastert 10y ago

> The electricity generated by coal is amongst the least expensive in the country. Is coal less expensive than wind or solar? It probably is, but I don't know where to look up such data.

int_19h 10y ago

If that was actually the rationale, the law would mandate utilities to use the cheapest available source, whatever that happens to be at any given point; not provide a fixed list of sources. So, it's really just an excuse.

ue_ 10y ago

I'm always astounded about what people will do for profit. To destroy the planet, or even to keep doing it, for the purpose of keeping people employed. The 'free market' doesn't fix this behavior. Thanks capitalism.