Wyoming's energy consumption
Wyoming is a significant player in the energy sector of the United States, ranking as the third-highest energy producer. The state is notable for its vast coal resources, being home to eight of the largest coal mines in the country, particularly in the Powder River Basin, which alone contributes 41% of the nation's coal production. In addition to coal, Wyoming excels in natural gas production and wind energy generation. The state has favorable geographical conditions for various energy sources, including wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy.
In 2022, Wyoming produced over 6,000 trillion British thermal units of energy, with the majority generated from coal (51.3%), followed by renewables (34.6%) and natural gas (12.4%). Despite its robust energy output, Wyoming ranks low in energy consumption, positioning it as one of the least consuming states in the U.S. The primary energy consumers are industrial sectors, followed by transportation and residential uses, with nearly 60% of households relying on natural gas for heating. Wyoming is also actively pursuing green energy initiatives and has seen investments aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and renewable energy development, particularly in wind power. Overall, Wyoming's energy landscape reflects a unique blend of traditional fossil fuels and a growing commitment to renewable energy resources.
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Wyoming's energy consumption
Summary: Wyoming is the third-highest energy producer in the United States. Eight of the largest coal mines in the United States are in Wyoming, and it is a national leader in both natural gas production and wind generation per capita.
The western state of Wyoming is the 10th-largest of the American states, covering 97,818 square miles. One of Wyoming’s most significant landmarks is the majestic Rocky Mountains, which cover much of the land area. Geography has placed Wyoming in an ideal position for generating a range of energy sources that include coal, natural gas, wind energy, hydropower, and electricity. Studies have also identified Wyoming as an ideal location for the production of geothermal energy. According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2022, Wyoming produced 6,014 trillion British thermal units (Btu) of energy; only Texas and Pennsylvania produced more energy within its borders.
Wyoming is home to eight of the ten largest coal mines in the United States, including the five largest. In the northeastern section of the state, the mines of the Powder River Basin produce 41 percent of all coal excavated in the United States. Wyoming is the chief supplier of coal to more than thirty other states. Wyoming also ranks fourth among states for natural gas production. Wind energy is a major factor in Wyoming’s energy sector, and the Southern Wyoming Corridor has been identified as one of the most favorable areas in the country for generating wind power.
Wyoming has 500 square miles of water within its borders. The major rivers are the Bighorn, Green, Belle Fourche, Powder, and North Platte. Major lakes within Wyoming include Yellowstone Lake, Glendo Reservoir, Bighorn Lake, Boysen Reservoir, Flaming Gage Reservoir, Seminoe Reservoir, Alcova Reservoir, and Keyhole Reservoir. Wyoming’s rivers have provided the state with sufficient resources for hydropower. Three hydropower plants located in neighboring states extend into Wyoming. In 2022, Wyoming generated 27.56 terawatt-hours of electricity.
According to the US Energy Information Agency, Wyoming ranked forty-second, or the ninth lowest, in the United States in energy consumption, consuming 492 trillion Btu in 2022. Power plants in Wyoming are predictably powered by the readily available coal. As a result, Wyoming produced 54.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2022. The majority of Wyoming's electricity was generated by coal (51.3 percent), renewables (34.6 percent), natural gas (12.4 percent). Most energy was consumed by industry, followed by transportation, commercial enterprises, and homes (8.5 percent). Nearly 60 percent of Wyoming households relied on natural gas for home heating.
The Pursuit of Green Energy
In 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and asked the governors of each state to submit letters of intent concerning their plans for using federal grant money to target the promotion of energy efficiency and pursue renewable forms of energy. Governor Dave Freudenthal responded with the assertion that Wyoming was already providing residents with affordable electricity and was encouraging innovation in this field. The state planned to use grant money to supplement programs already implemented through the Wyoming Energy Improvement Program.
Early in 2010, Recovery Act funding was used in Casper, Wyoming, to improve the transmission of electricity and make it easier for the state to recover from disruptions in energy supplies. In the summer of 2010, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) was disbursing $21.3 million to fund fifteen projects designed to store carbon dioxide safely within geological formations. In Wyoming, this research, which focused on the storage of carbon dioxide and co-contaminants found in the deep saline formations of the state, was carried out by the University of Wyoming at Laramie. In the fall of that year, the DOE released $575 million to be used in 15 states to boost research and development in the production of clean coal. Some $5 million of those funds were allotted to the University of Wyoming. That same month, Wyoming joined a federally funded consortium headed by West Virginia University that was created to develop and test innovative technologies dealing with carbon capture and sequestration. Wyoming used a share of other grant money to fund weatherization projects within the state.
Wyoming is one of the leading states in the area of wind power, and the state has potential to expand this capacity even further. One of the first wind sites in the Northwest was built at Medicine Bow in 1982 with support from the DOE. By the mid-2020s, that facility supported nine turbines. Other wind power facilities are located in Cheyenne and Foote Creek. The latter was a collection of three plants built near Arlington in 1999, with sixty-nine, three, and thirty-three turbines, respectively. Foote Creek was among the largest such facilities in Wyoming until it was shut down in the late 2010s. The farm was refitted with modern turbine technology and repowered in 2021 with a capacity of 41.4 megawatts. Wyoming is a sparsely populated state, and most of the wind energy generated in Wyoming is sold to other states. However, Wyoming taxes wind generation, unlike any other state. In 2023, the state had a wind capacity of 2,424 megawatts, ranking eighteenth in the United States.
The Wyoming Business Council administered the State Energy Office, providing Wyomingites and businesses with grants, equipment loans, and rebates in order to promote the use of alternative and renewable energy. Wyoming’s governor’s office is an active member of the Western Governors’ Association.
Bibliography
Barnes, Roland V., ed. Energy Crisis in America? Huntington, NY: Nova Science, 2001.
Bird, Lori, et al. Green Power Marketing in the United States: A Status Report. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2008.
“Geothermal Resources.” Wyoming State Geological Survey, 2024, main.wsgs.wyo.gov/energy/geothermal. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.
"Where Our Coal Comes From." US Energy Information Administration, 22 Dec. 2023, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/where-our-coal-comes-from.php. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.
"Wyoming." US Energy Information Administration, 20 June 2024, www.eia.gov/state/?sid=WY. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.
“Wyoming State Energy Program transfers to Wyoming Energy Authority.” Wyoming Business Council, 2024, wyomingbusiness.org/news/wyoming-state-energy-program-transfers-to-wyoming-energy-authority/. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.