Wyoming Lawmakers Approve $76 Million Funding for Energy Research

Lawmakers approved last week the 2010-11 biennial budget, dedicating more than $76 million for energy research projects funded by the state’s share of federal Abandoned Mine Land (AML) funds. The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources will receive $45 million for development of a subcommerical scale CO2 sequestration research demonstration project, $14 million for clean coal technology research, and $17.4 million for operation of the school. Three bills regulating the wind energy industry also were signed into law by Gov. Dave Freudenthal last week.

The wind industry bills signed by the governor mandate a $1 per-megawatt-hour tax on wind energy generated in the state beginning in 2012 (HB 101), set minimum state standards for wind projects (HB 72), and suspend the power of wind companies to use eminent domain for one year (HB 79).

The approved budget also appropriates $87 million in total funds to the Wyoming Business Council, which includes $27.7 million for the Wyoming Business Council Division, a slight decrease from the appropriation for the current biennium.

The 2010-11 enrolled budget bill is available at: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2010/Enroll/HB0001.pdf.

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