Gov. Matt Mead says it’s taking longer than he expected to develop an energy policy for Wyoming.
Mead wanted to have a draft energy policy finished this summer, but he says it’s taking a long time to gather input from all interested parties, including conservation groups, ag groups and the energy industry. Still, he says the finished product will be worth the wait.
“Rather than being reactive and engaging in lawsuits and court battles, let’s work together to find a consensus on where we should go with energy development in the state,” the governor said.
Mead says Wyoming’s energy policy will likely set goals for how much energy the state hopes to produce in the future. He says he’s also taking a hard look at where new development should occur, taking into account existing pipelines, transmission corridors, and sage grouse core areas.
The governor says he’s not sure when the energy policy will be done, but he says he’s confident that it will give energy companies more certainty about their development options, and also provide important environmental protections.