CASPER, Wyo. — Legislation has been proposed to increase Wyoming's tax on wind production and impose a new tax on utility-scale solar facilities.
House Bill 118 is sponsored by Republican Rep. Thomas Crank, of Kemmerer. It proposes levying a $2 per megawatt hour tax on renewable energy produced in Wyoming. Currently, the state levies a $1 per megawatt hour tax on just wind power.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that the measure provides that if a company manufactures and installs its wind or solar facilities in Wyoming, the cost of equipment may be subtracted from the tax bill.
Crank said he hoped the bill would entice manufacturers to Wyoming.
Taxing wind development has drawn opposition from the growing industry.
An attempt to increase the wind tax to $5 per megawatt hour failed last year.