Wyoming is encouraging the growth of green energy, and renewable energy. In the current climate of foreign energy dependence, and economic crisis secondary to rising energy costs, the development of renewable energy is critical. With a higher than average number of sunny days in most areas of Wyoming, solar energy is a growing source of power on homes and offices.
Wyoming is also one of the forerunners in promotion and growth of wind energy - many areas in Wyoming have winds on an almost constant basis. Medicine Bow, in particular, has gained some attention as a prime location for wind turbines, due to the nearly perpetual strong winds. Testing of a larger Clipper turbine is taking place there, as well as a growing number of turbine installations on the surrounding ranchlands.
A new facility is in progress near Medicine Bow, for extraction of diesel fuel from coal. The facility uses a range of greener processing methods to reduce emissions, as well as to capture C02 for reuse. Carbon dioxide sequestration (the confinement of C02), where this facility is concerned, refers to injection of C02 into abandoned oil wells, which allows reactivation of the oil well. Most oil wells are abandoned after recovery of about 50% of the oil. Use of carbon dioxide injection allows additional recovery of crude oil. The technologies involved in this new facility (diesel extraction from coal, carbon dioxide capture and sequestration) are proven technologies.
Wyoming is also high in coal reserves, and the coal in Wyoming is hard, low sulfur coal. Hard coal burns cleaner than soft coal, and has a higher energy yield, and therefore has a lower impact on the environment than soft coal.
New methane wells are also increasing across the state. A form of natural gas, methane also is clean burning.
Energy production in Wyoming is on the rise. So much so that Wyoming is one state where growth is occurring in spite of recession, and where job availability is on the rise as well. Employee shortages are becoming an issue.
Clean energy, renewable energy, and American produced. Wyoming is leading the way into a future where we can enjoy the benefits for our nation on both an economic front, and an environmental front.
