Wind tax increase proposal rejected by Wyoming legislators

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming lawmakers have shot down a bill that would have quintupled the state’s tax on wind production.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports (https://bit.ly/2klGJfd ) the House Revenue Committee voted down the measure Monday in a 7-2 decision.

Republican Rep. Mike Madden is one of the sponsors of the bill that would’ve raised the wind tax to $5. He says the measure would’ve created a more level playing field by putting wind industry taxes more in line with the coal, oil and gas industry.

But critics of the legislation said it would hurt renewable energy projects, such as the Power Company of Wyoming’s $5 billion Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project. It’s been in the works for nearly a decade and is expected to be the largest wind project in the U.S.

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Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, https://www.trib.com