Federal Roadblocks Threaten Wyoming’s Booming Renewable Energy Future

Wyoming’s renewable energy sector is experiencing dramatic growth, with renewable electricity generation jumping 24% in just one year. By December 2024, renewable sources made up 26% of the state’s electricity production. Wind power leads the charge, accounting for about 90% of Wyoming’s renewable generation.

Wyoming’s renewable electricity surged 24% in one year, with wind power dominating the state’s clean energy landscape.

The state’s wind capacity reached 3,700 megawatts by the end of 2024. Another 980 megawatts will come online in 2025. The massive Chokecherry-Sierra Madre project plans to add 3,550 megawatts with 600 turbines. Once it’s finished between 2029 and 2031, it’ll boost Wyoming’s power generation by 34%. This expansion aligns with the global trend where renewable capacity growth is increasingly led by major international players.

But federal policy changes are creating serious problems. Recent executive orders ended clean energy tax credits under Sections 45Y and 48E. Projects must start construction before July 4, 2026, and begin operating by the end of 2027 to qualify for these incentives. That’s a tight deadline since getting permits for new wind or solar facilities can take years. The order specifically labels renewable energy as a threat to national security and domestic energy sources.

The loss of these tax credits could hit Wyoming hard. Without them, the state’s electricity prices might rise by 29% – the biggest increase in the nation. Wyoming already has some of the highest monthly energy costs in the country at $1,591 per month.

Major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have stakes in Wyoming’s renewable energy through the Clean Energy Buyers Association. They want affordable clean power, but the changing federal rules make future investments uncertain.

Wyoming’s renewable boom has brought jobs and investment to rural areas. Workers are building new projects and transmission lines to send power to other states, especially California. The state operates 16 hydroelectric dams that provide about 8% of renewable generation, though most are over 60 years old.

The shortened federal timelines worry developers. Transmission project delays make it harder to move new renewable energy out of state. Projects that miss construction or operation deadlines won’t get the tax credits they counted on. This uncertainty threatens Wyoming’s position as a major renewable energy producer just as the industry was taking off.