Alec Schaffer
The Wyoming legislator has joined a coalition of 24 states that are filing a suit against President Barack Obama’s administration’s power plan.
The goal of the clean power plan is to reduce carbon emissions; these require a 44 percent carbon emissions reduction for Wyoming.
Coal related fields make up 11 percent of Wyoming’s economy, and the state produces 40 percent of the nations coal, making it the largest energy exporter in the United States. Moreover, the state is the third largest energy exporter in the world after Russia and Saudi Arabia, according to the state website.
Due to the dependence of Wyoming’s economy on coal and energy related fields, many legislators worry the bill will be greatly damaging to the state, as well as the nation.
“Not only will it hurt Wyoming but the nation,” Representative Dave Edwards, R-Gillette, said.
Governor Matt Mead also expressed concerns both about the effects of the bill and about the merit of it as well.
“I have said from the get-go that this rule is legally and scientifically flawed. We do not believe EPA has the authority for this rule,” Mead said. “The fact that the agency more than doubled the damage to Wyoming in the final rule shows arbitrary and capricious action.”
However the governor’s office expresses conference in the ability of the legislator to protect the states economy and maintain a fiscal responsible budget.
“The Legislature has been my partner in fiscal planning from my first day in office,” Mead said. “We have worked on fiscal policy that grows Wyoming’s economy, creates opportunities and allows us to move steadily forward in all revenue climates. We have established and grown savings and permanent funds. We must steer a steady course now as we navigate a period of diminished revenue.”
Despite these economic concerns many see the bill as necessary to combat climate change.
“Climate change is a very real eventuality that future generations are going to have to live with,” Aimee Cleave, executive director of the Wyoming Democratic party, said. “We support the President’s plan to try to address that issue. There’s no reason why Wyoming’s economy, at least in terms of the energy industry, couldn’t diversify. There’s no reason why we need to just focus on coal.”
If Wyoming creates coalitions with other states, it could figure out a way to reduce economic troubles, Charles Mason, UW professor of petroleum and natural gas economics, said.
“If we aren’t creative we’re going to be in trouble,” Mason said.
