Wyoming Governor Matt Mead has unveiled a new energy plan that still pays a lot of attention to coal, but also looks to boost renewable energy. Mead says Wyoming needs to diversify its energy economy, but denies that the decline of coal did not lead to that choice.
“It was never, hey, coal is having a tough time now and so we are going to move away from coal and to renewables. In fact in some ways I’d say it’s a doubling down on coal and a very good start on renewables.”
Recruiting renewable energy manufacturing is part of the plan as is research into finding uses for carbon dioxide emissions. Mead would also like to reduce state rules and regulations, while still protecting the environment.
The governor said that the state needs to continue to be proactive when it comes to energy and it needs to diversify its energy portfolio.