The Wyoming Senate has passed a bill that they hope will keep Wyoming coal plants open.

But the idea could cost Wyoming ratepayers while doing nothing to save those plants.

Senate File 142 would, they hope make it more difficult for public utilities to close their coal plants.

The bill also pushes utilities to install carbon capture technology in the hopes of appeasing those who want all coal plants closed.

Yet those who want to end the use of coal, all together, and keep it in the ground, don't seem to care if Wyoming captures CO2 and sequesters it or not.

Dave Johnston in Glenrock is slated for closure by 2027 and Jim Bridger outside of Rock Springs will close by 2037. Both plants are operated by Rocky Mountain Power, which is the main opponent to the bill. (Wyoming Public Media).

Richard Garlish, a Rocky Mountain Power vice president, said the company serves its customers first, which means dispatching the most reliable, least expensive electricity to customers. Garlish said this does not likely include carbon capture. He made the comparison of the coal plants to cars.

“We’re not talking about putting mud flaps on a car, we’re talking about putting a sophisticated turbocharger on a 50-year-old vehicle,” Garlish said. (Wyoming Public Media).

Dave Johnston Power Plant. Rocky Mountain Power
Dave Johnston Power Plant. Rocky Mountain Power
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Mr. Garlish said, as he testified. that the proposal would muddy the waters and cost Wyoming ratepayers much more than they pay now.

This is easily a billion-dollar project.

That cost will be passed on to ratepayers in an attempt to appease people who still want to shut down coal plants.

Switching to wind and solar power has been shown to be much less reliable and much more expensive, despite the promises made.

Also, when looking at the origins and final resting place of wind and solar, it's shown to be anything but green, clean, or sustainable.

Still, Wyoming lawmakers, in the Senate, passed the bill and moved it on to the house. It's the best idea they have for saving coal plants, even though they are being told it will not work.

“I’ve been looking at the bill for two months – I don’t understand it. I don’t really know what it means for my customers. And now we’re going to amend it and put it in place,” Mr. Garlish said. “I’m not sure what we’re doing, and I'm not sure what the amendments do to fix what we’re doing, and so that’s where the company is at.” (Wyoming Public Media).

The bill passed the Senate and now moves on to the House

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