No, Wyoming Isn't Looking to Ban Electric Vehicles...Yet

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 19:33:15 GMT

California turned heads in August when its lawmakers pushed and passed legislation to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles state-wide by 2035. In Wyoming, similar legislation was recently proposed, but on the opposite side of the aisle.

Sen. Jim Anderson (R-Wyo.) introduced a resolution last Friday aimed at phasing out electric vehicle sales in Wyoming by 2035. According to the resolution, the concept is being considered in order to sustain the state’s oil and gas industry.

“The oil and gas industry in Wyoming has created countless jobs and contributed revenue to the state,” says Sen. Dan Dockstader (R-Wyo.). “Wyoming will be robbed of 12,000 to 16,000 jobs if we dismiss gas vehicles for the sake electric. It’s unacceptable.”

Tabled Until 2024

Following the proposal, the resolution was referred to Wyoming’s minerals committee, where it was discussed and tabled, “at least,” through the year, Dockstader says.

“The resolution won’t be heard on the Senate floor in 2023, but we will revisit it in 2024,” he says.

The resolution discussion follows the Biden administration’s federal ban on oil and gas leasing. According to Dockstader, the ban is costing Wyoming $304 million per year, from 2021 to 2025.

“At some point as a state we have to push back and say our people and our jobs are more important. Our mineral and gas industry, that’s what’s employing our families across the state, and we stand with them.”

Electric Outlook

Outside of electric vehicles, Dockstader says he and his fellow Wyoming legislators aren’t completely closed off to new technologies.

“We’re using hydroelectric power here in Wyoming as well as wind power and solar. We’re not saying we’re not interested in trying other energy outlets. But if you step away from our current energy sources, or step away from gas-powered vehicles, you can’t drive the economy,” he says.

Docskstader pointed to California, saying the state—and any others that choose to ban gas-powered vehicles—can expect “serious” economic consequences.

“The havoc the U.S. is experiencing now with rapid inflation will reach far beyond the economy if we take away oil and gas and continue this electric vehicle spending,” he says. “We didn’t need this before and we won’t need this in the future, at least not in Wyoming.”

Microgrid Project Supports Renewable Energy on Hawaii’s Parker Ranch

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:23:43 GMT

The largest cattle ranch in Hawaii is working on an electrical project with a microgrid that will help support renewable energy and grid resiliency on the operation.

The Parker Ranch on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, has entered a partnership with Go Electric Inc. to design and build a 400-kW microgrid on-site. The project is slated to start later in 2018 and should be completed by the second quarter of next year.

The microgrid will help service the ranch’s cattle water pumps and other commercial initiatives near the microgrid.

“The Go Electric microgrid underpins the three major strategies at Parker Ranch–Energy, Agriculture and Community Development,” says Dutch Kuyper, president and CEO of Parker Ranch. “Through energy resiliency we’ll enable a sustainable future for the ranch, the community, and the Big Island.”

Parker Ranch will also install a solar photovoltaic, also known as solar cells, at the site near Waimea. This will include battery energy storage and a back-up diesel generator.

“The Go Electric microgrid underpins the three major strategies at Parker Ranch–Energy, Agriculture and Community Development,” says Dutch Kuyper, president and CEO of Parker Ranch. “Through energy resiliency we’ll enable a sustainable future for the ranch, the community, and the Big Island.”

Having the renewable energy assets will ensures that the during a grid outage to supply grid services to Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO). This will similarly provide grid stability during peak demand or periods with grid frequency or voltage challenges for HELCO.

“This microgrid is a unique nexus of energy, agriculture, and water,” says Lisa Laughner, CEO of Go Electric. “We are delighted to be part of Parker Ranch’s resiliency vision while contributing to the broader grid resiliency on the Big Island.”

The Parker Ranch has been operating on the Big Island of Hawaii for more than 160 years. The ranch is in a charitable trust and is 130,000 acres in size. According to CattleFax data from 2016 , Parker Ranch is the ninth largest cow-calf operation in the U.S.

Solar

No, Wyoming Isn't Looking to Ban Electric Vehicles...Yet

Tabled Until 2024

Electric Outlook

Microgrid Project Supports Renewable Energy on Hawaii’s Parker Ranch