Wyoming would set aside a portion of its severance tax revenues for an “energy dominance fund” under a bill sailing through the Legislature with the full support of the White House.
S.B. 123 envisions creating a matching grant and loan program to bolster projects focused on producing fossil fuels, uranium and rare-earth minerals. Wind and solar energy projects would be excluded.
Financed by the taxes that industry already pays to drill and mine in Wyoming, the fund would raise an estimated $105 million over two years. It would sunset after 2028.
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The state would use the money to facilitate “massive projects,” said Senate President Bo Biteman, who is sponsoring the bill with House Speaker Chip Neiman. Both are Republicans.
