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Dave Freudenthal on Energy & Oil
Democratic WY Governor
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Nation's first state excise tax on wind energy production
A proposal in Wyoming to impose the nation's first state excise tax on wind energy production is generating debate over how the state should handle the arrival of massive wind farms to its wind-swept plains and plateaus. Gov. Dave Freudenthal made the
wind energy tax a centerpiece of his legislative agenda, drawing surprise and alarm from some in the state's fledgling wind industry.Freudenthal said wind can be a beneficial industry for Wyoming, but doesn't deserve special treatment. "It can help
keep people in agriculture. It can help people have jobs, and hopefully it can lead to some manufacturing facilities in the state," he said. "Having said all that, they are not entitled to a free ride."
"I appreciate the fact that people can say it has
great environmental benefits, but that's people who don't live next to them, or whose wildlife habitat isn't being disrupted, or the bird population isn't being affected, or whose view isn't being altered," Freudenthal said.
Source: Matt Joyce in Washington Post
, Feb 14, 2010
We have doubled the take-away capacity of natural gas
Since 2003, we have more than doubled the take-away capacity of natural gas out of this state. So while you have had a decline in price, it has been offset by the fact that you have had an increase in volume relative to previous declines in this state,
and that makes a significant difference. The efforts of the Pipeline Authority and those who supported it also had a bearing. When other states say Wyoming is so lucky, I don't think it is so much luck. Hard work makes it look like luck.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
, Feb 8, 2010
Link development of wind power with electrical transmission
Gov. Dave Freudenthal urged stakeholders at an energy conference to keep transmission and wind power development linked as they move from policy decisions to on-the-ground action. Wind power and electrical transmission were the focus of the conference;
Freudenthal noted that it is important for Western states to recognize that the two go together. “In the absence of transmission, the wind resource in Wyoming will go largely undeveloped,” the governor said.
Source: Campaign website, www.govdave.com, “Issues”
, Jul 18, 2006
Develop wind power AND its electrical transmission
Gov. Freudenthal urged stakeholders at an energy conference in Denver to keep electrical transmission and wind power development linked as they move from policy decisions to on-the-ground action. Freudenthal delivered the keynote address at a leadership
forum co-sponsored by the National Wind Coordinating Committee."In the absence of transmission, the wind resource in Wyoming will go largely undeveloped," the governor said. "Thus, it is important that we maintain our focus on developing transmission
along with our capacity to exploit the vast wind resources that exist in Wyoming."
Ultimately, Freudenthal said, the marketplace will determine which resources are developed to produce electricity. "In
Wyoming, we do not intend to change our long-standing emphasis on natural gas, oil and coal development, but we are certainly in the process of adding wind power as an important part of the energy that we produce," Freudenthal said.
Source: Gubernatorial press release, "Wind Power"
, Jul 18, 2006
Page last updated: Nov 21, 2011