Lawmakers Consider Wind Energy Taxes

AP 5-12,2016

A group of lawmakers is seeking to increase taxes on wind farms to put more money into education, which is mostly funded through payments made by the declining coal industry.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1qeTk1K ) that the Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee discussed two proposals Wednesday that would raise wind taxes. One plan would increase the tax per megawatt hour of wind produced in Wyoming, while the other would require wind companies to give up a portion of a tax credit they receive from the federal government.

Lawmakers are looking to put more into an account largely funded by payments made by coal companies that supports school construction and maintenance.

Wind energy representatives say the increased taxes may stifle development of the wind industry in Wyoming.