Holly Morgan
Hmorgan3@uwyo.edu
Tuesday, the UW School of Energy Resources, Center for Global Studies, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and Center for Law and Energy Resources in the Rockies sponsored a keynote presentation and panel discussion about the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and its potential impacts on the state of Wyoming, and beyond.
“A Conversation on the Clean Power Plan’s Impact in Wyoming: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities” hosted a range of officials and professionals from academic, governmental and industry so as to delve into the complex CPP and what it spells for the future of the United States and energy production.
The CPP was announced by the Obama administration and the Environmental Protection Agency late 2015 and outlines standards for power plants as a way of cutting the main source of carbon emissions contributing to climate change. This conversation at UW was sparked by the February 2016, Supreme Court staying of the implementation of the CPP pending judicial review.
Cathy S. Woodlums, senior vice president of the Environmental and Chief Environmental councils for Berkshire Hathaway, was the keynote speaker of the event.
Woodlums spoke of the huge variety of opinions on the topic of climate change and CPP as well as the future for states and organizations with fossil fuels as the cornerstone of their livelihood with the enactment of the CPP.
“There is a lot at stake in this D.C. Litigation…states with significant portfolios of fossil generation are going to have a hard time…Wyoming will be a state with the largest (CO2) tonnage reduction requirements,” Woodlums said.
Several other panelists weighed in during the following panel discussion on the CPP’s potential impact on industry in Wyoming.
“Twenty-five to 50 percent less coal production in Wyoming will be required by the CPP… a reduction of 15 percent of state revenue is possible. The tightening belt we are seeing around campus now would only get worse,” Rob Godby, director of UW’s Center for Energy, Economics and Public Policy, said.
Public Service Commissioner Al Miner said, “it is a very dangerous time for the state of Wyoming.”
Others, such as Director of Carbon Management Institute Kip Coddington, had more optimistic views about the adaptability of Wyoming in the face what he believes is inevitable change.
“I’m not willing to be so blue about what the future may hold… speculation is invariably wrong… cap and trade in Europe did not go as planned with reducing emissions, but it also didn’t impact the coal industry as we thought,” Coddington said.
Conversations like this one are just the beginning of what will be one of the most pertinent issues for the University of Wyoming, and Wyoming as a whole in coming years. While each panelist expressed support of a lower carbon future, how to execute it is still widely contested, and will undergo further discussion.
“That is where we are going, whether you like it or not. We need to get to a lower carbon future with minimized negative impacts for… people, states and businesses,” Vice President of Cloud Peak Energy Public Affairs Richard Reavey said.
Dr. Ingrid Burke called for a united effort to reach the goals from the Paris Climate Agreement and CPP bridging the energy- environment schism to move forward.
