Wyoming Bill Would Outlaw In-State Renewable Energy Sales

A bill introduced in the Wyoming state legislature would forbid utilities from providing any electricity to residents that comes from large-scale wind or solar energy projects. Online publication Inside Climate News reports the bill's nine sponsors, two state senators and seven representatives, largely come from Wyoming's top coal-producing counties. The state is the least populous in the U.S., and ranks second in overall energy production, first in coal production, fourth in natural gas and eighth in crude oil. The bill doesn’t completely outlaw renewable energy, however. Selling Wyoming-made solar and wind energy to other states would remain legal. Under the proposal, if a utility provided energy produced by a large-scale wind or solar plant to Wyoming residents, it would be fined $10 per megawatt sold.