Craig Cox

Perspective

Wyoming is the nation's seventh-best state for wind energy generation potential, yet lags far behind other states in actually developing its vast wind resources.

Iowa - a state half Wyoming's size and ranking 10th for wind energy potential - is outpacing Wyoming three-to-one on wind energy development. The Hawkeye state is No. 2 in the nation in wind development with 2,862 megawatts (MW) compared with Wyoming's 814 MW. Only Texas generates more wind than Iowa.

Why does Iowa outpace Wyoming and many other bigger states that have better wind energy resources?

State policies matter.

Though Wyoming is blessed with vast wind energy resources, its renewable energy policies have not kept pace, and the state ranks 13th in the country for wind energy development.

This situation began to change in 2004, when Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed legislation into law creating the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, charged with enabling further development of the state's rich energy resources through critical infrastructure improvements such as transmission.

Happily, state officials are now beginning to look even more closely at how to leverage Wyoming's wind energy potential. This month, the Legislature's new Task Force on Wind Energy conducted its first meeting in Cheyenne. Though held in one of the Capitol's largest rooms, this meeting was standing room only. From rural landowners to lobbyists, from Freudenthal's office to Public Service Commissioners, this meeting attracted a broad cross-section of participants from around the state.

This task force took public comments and discussed its goals and activities. It set an ambitious agenda of examining and possibly revamping Wyoming's wind energy development policies.

The task force directed government agencies to compile current regulations on wind development in Wyoming and to ask a range of government officials and stakeholder groups to provide information and presentations to the task force's next meeting in Casper on Aug. 26-27.

So, how can this task force help Wyoming reach - or exceed - its huge potential for wind energy development? Here are a few observations on policies that have helped Iowa and other states prosper from wind energy.

Transmission development

New transmission capacity is essential for most new energy development, including wind. This is becoming a priority for all levels of government nationwide. New transmission must be planned wisely and proactively, so that the fewest possible new high-voltage lines can provide the most benefits for Wyomingites while enhancing our national security. All parties must be part of the discussion so that the many benefits of new renewable energy production can be realized most effectively.

Tax certainty

Wyoming has a well-deserved reputation for its business-friendly tax policies. However, this reputation suffered a blow this year when a new law prematurely revoked a wind energy sales tax exemption. The unexpected and sudden revocation of this exemption caused great concern among wind energy developers planning to invest billions of dollars in Wyoming's economy, and who need long-term policy certainty.

Protection of wildlife and native habitats

Wind energy is environmentally beneficial: it generates power without producing any emissions. Just the same, the wind industry is mindful of impacts that wind energy has on key wildlife species and native plant habitats. This is why industry leaders work closely, proactively and collaboratively with leading wildlife conservation and lands groups. The wind industry takes seriously its commitment to maintaining the natural integrity of areas in which it invests.

Strong local support

Wind energy provides new tax revenues to rural counties and lease payments to landowners while providing construction and operating jobs in rural areas. The wind industry works with individual landowners, landowner groups, governmental entities and other stakeholders to ensure that everyone benefits from new wind projects. Strong local support for economically beneficial new wind projects is evident in localities around the country.

Leveraging federal policies

When Barack Obama successfully campaigned on a platform calling for 25 percent renewable energy by 2025, he also called for new transmission capacity and other federal policies to support this new renewable energy development. Now, as Congress considers these policies, Wyoming and other Western states are poised to reap the benefits of this significant new development.

When the Legislature's wind energy task force meets again in August, I hope that the same broad range of parties that participated in the first meeting in Cheyenne will turn out again in Casper. Wyoming could be poised to attain national leadership in this most plentiful of state resources: wind.

Craig Cox is executive director of the Interwest Energy Alliance, a trade association representing the wind and utility-scale solar energy industries in the West. Interwest is the regional partner organization of the American Wind Energy Association.