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The state, the least populous in the U.S.,
ranks second in overall energy production; first in coal production; fourth in natural gas; and eighth in crude oil. And its Republican-controlled legislature seems determined to keep its unholy trinity of fossil fuels on top.
Last week, state legislators, several of whom deny the existence human-caused climate change, filed a measure that would
effectively outlaw renewable energy by preventing Wyoming utilities from selling electricity generated by wind or solar farms.
Currently, about
90 percent of the electricity provided to the half-million residents of Wyoming comes from coal. The leftover electricity Wyoming generates is sold to the rest of the country. Selling Wyoming-made solar and wind energy to other states would remain legal even if this bill were passed. It’s the right of the utilities to sell solar and wind to residents of Wyoming that would be restricted.
Under this 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. Only energy from coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, oil and small-scale, privately-owned solar panels and wind turbines could be sold without repercussions.
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