ALLISON RUPP Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Saturday, March 8, 2008 12:00 am
Wyoming should be one of 10 large demonstration projects to develop clean coal technology, Sen. Hillary Clinton said.
She said she is 100 percent committed to providing federal funding for this development and believes America should be the one to invent the technology.
It "frustrates" her that the Bush administration hasn't paid close attention to the subject.
"One (project) should be in Wyoming," she said. "You've got the framework and you've given more thought to this than other states."
Clinton touched on how important the energy industry is to Casper and the state of Wyoming during her speech to about 1,000 Friday night at Casper College, but she answered some energy questions more in-depth during an interview.
The senator didn't seem to think developing clean energy would disrupt Wyoming's economy that relies so much on the energy industry. In fact, she said the state will be "a big winner" if clean energy is successful.
"If we do the clean coal work, Wyoming is going to win," she said. "If we are able to continue to produce oil and gas, especially if we can get fields that are depleted to start producing again, Wyoming will win."
Wyoming is a leader in wind power, she said, and if the state can distribute the wind power to places such as California, the Equality State stands to gain again.
In agreement with Gov. Dave Freudenthal, Clinton supports the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, which would put 1.2 million acres of Wyoming land off-limits to energy development. She said this is what the people of Wyoming want.
Listening to the people of Wyoming and other Western states will play a huge role in how her administration handles energy, public lands, grazing and other issues, she said.
When it comes to these issues you have to strike a balance, she said. You can't go overboard and let the federal government decide everything, but you also can't let the energy companies decide, she said.
"Those are all technical details that you have to work out with local people who understand what the realities are," she said.
Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.