In energy transition, Wyoming can write its own story

I attended the Wyoming Public Service Commission meetings in Kemmerer and Rock Springs. As WyoFile reported, there were indeed many angst-filled comments regarding Rocky Mountain Power’s Integrated Resource Plan. 

The plan includes shutting down coal-fired power plants earlier than scheduled, which will have myriad impacts on workers, their communities and the state. Politicians, area businesses and workers have valid concerns, among them “economic anxiety.”  

I get it. I understand the feeling of losing one’s identity. I was laid off after nearly 20 years in the trona mining industry and lost not only my paycheck and benefits, but my social connections as well. 

A part of me will always be a miner, but I am also a hunter and an outdoor enthusiast, among other things. That’s one of the reasons I’m so concerned that energy transition be done right. 

In Wyoming we are all dependent on coal to fund local and state government. Our quality of life is heavily subsidized by coal, but energy markets are changing. Our state’s revenue streams need to diversify, along with our economy.  

So yes, there was plenty of angst expressed. But there was also another narrative voiced, one in support of the Public Service Commission’s mission to provide fair and reliable power, regardless of the source. That narrative also expressed support for the opportunities presented in a planned transition. I know because I was one of those speakers.  

Support civic engagement with a tax-deductible donation.

I was at the meetings on behalf of Powder River Basin Resource Council to encourage the PSC to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of Rocky Mountain Power’s Integrated Resource Plan. 

Ensuring a fair and just process is essential, but so is the finding of facts. Diversifying our economy will depend on affordable and reliable power. A thorough investigation can help ensure that Wyoming ratepayers receive safe, reliable and affordable electric power.  

As a state, if we focus on economic diversity and revenue generation, as well as invest in workers and communities, we all benefit.  

We must not lose sight of what we love — wide open spaces and abundant wildlife. Safety and environmental regulations ought to apply to all sources of power generation, transmission and storage. But if we aren’t proactive about changing energy markets, our state could indeed suffer irreparable harm.  

It may not be popular in Wyoming to support energy transition, but it’s coming. And while we can’t force other states to buy our coal, cooperation and collaboration are possible. 

Now is the time to work together to examine and address the opportunities that the planned energy transition can provide. 

Coal transition is only one part of the IRP. How might Wyoming take advantage of the more than $6 billion that PacifiCorp intends to invest in the state for new ways to deliver power to our customers? Can we design energy development that is good for people, places and wildlife? 

Wyoming can write its own story, and we begin by embracing the interdependent reality of multi-state protocols and global markets. Bringing our ideas and values to the table is essential.  

Wyoming does need to make its voice heard in the larger conversation of global energy. Responsible energy can remain a cornerstone of Wyoming’s economy well into the future. 

The Public Service Commission is one factor in this situation, but its role is limited. It is not an economic development agency, and shouldn’t be expected to address the apprehension expressed at the public meetings. We need other solutions, especially from state leaders, but also from the grassroots.

We can learn from other coal communities what works and what doesn’t. Most of all, we should take advantage of the opportunities inherent in a deliberate transition, while never losing sight of what makes Wyoming unique.