Tagged: wyoming

    Wyoming Governor Matt Mead admits that interest in wind energy has cooled off for a bit,  but he hopes things will turn around soon. 

One issue is the failure of Congress to extend the wind energy tax credit, but the governor is also concerned about Wyoming’s wind tax policy.  He says he hoped the legislature would approve a tax on wind generation, but lawmakers cannot reach an agreement on that legislation.

“We are gonna take another run at it this session to try to have a tax policy that provides what it should to the counties to the locals and to the state.  But at the same time is not prohibitive.  And right now we have a huge up front tax for these wind companies which makes it very iffy for financing. ”

 Governor Matt Mead says he is continuing to pursue legal action over the federal roadless rule as he tries to work out a compromise in Wyoming.  Mead says the lawsuit is trying to delay making hundreds of acres off limits to development, while state officials work with the forest service to determine what should actually be off limits.

“I don’t think it will ultimately be resolved in the courts. I think hopefully it will be resolved with us working with the forest service and trying to figure out what we should do in the state.  Part of that is just an inventory.  What do we have and what does it mean?  Because the roadless rule means different things to different people including members of the forest service.”

For years, Eastern Wyoming has struggled with poverty and it appears things have not changed. 

 The Center for Rural Affairs says that 2010 census numbers confirm that poverty in Eastern Wyoming is at a rate that is actually higher than many urban areas, especially for children.  Report Author Jon Bailey says that part of the problem is that federal subsidies for large farms is harmful to rural development. 

He says there are innovative ways that can be used to turn things around such as developing federal, state and local partnerships.  But Bailey adds that this problem has been ignored for a long time.

Due to the price of natural gas dropping, the governor has requested 8% cuts. How should the state handle this?

WPM/NPR Community Discussion Rules 

Analysts are making conflicting predictions about where gas prices will go this summer. Some are forecasting record highs, while others say prices at the pump have already peaked. Businesses in Wyoming’s service industry hope for the latter, as they depend on an injection of tourism dollars each summer. Wyoming Public Radio’s Rebecca Martinez spoke with several businesses near Yellowstone about what might happen if gas prices climb with the temperature.

REBECCA MARTINEZ: Every summer, a healthy stream of tourists passes through Cody into Yellowstone National Park. They stop to eat, shop and pay homage to Buffalo Bill on their way into the wilderness. Scott Balyo, who directs the Cody Chamber of Commerce, says this year should be no different.

The historic Territorial Prison in Laramie is opening a new exhibit this weekend, which focuses on the era after the facility served as a prison – when the University of Wyoming used it for agriculture research. Willow Belden spoke with Deborah Amend, the superintendent of the prison, before the opening to hear about the history of the site, and the important studies that were done there while it was used for ag. She says the prison was built 140 years ago, as a federal territorial prison … but things changed in 1809, when Wyoming became a state.

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services has been hosting a number of job fairs across the state presumably because there are jobs to be had.  Joan Evans is the Department Director, she tells Bob Beck there are jobs for just about every type of worker, but it might require job training or relocation.

Wyoming has long been thought of as a state that focuses on energy, tourism and in some circles ranching.  But the state has been trying to also make itself a player in technology.  It started in earnest a few years back that the National Center for Atmospheric Research or NCAR was coming to Wyoming.  The latest push has centered around Data Centers.  Wyoming is offering sales tax incentives and grant money to try and attract them to the state.  Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck reports that many believe they could be an important piece in diversifying the economy.

There are more new ports designed for coal export being proposed in the U.S. and Wyoming’s Powder River Basin coal producers are training their eye on the developments. With some of the most efficient economies of scale in the world, a larger percentage of PRB coal could be making its way across the ocean soon. What would that mean for Wyoming and the global community? Irina Zhorov reports.  

IRINA ZHOROV: In 2000 the United States relied on coal to produce 52% of its electricity. In 2010, that number was down to 45%. The Energy Information Administration predicts that the percentage of coal-supplied electricity will continue to fall in the next couple of decades.