February 22, 2024 |
Photo – Wyoming’s Capitol Building in Cheyenne – Bigfoot99 file photo
In the Wyoming Legislature, Senate File 85, which promised to open a tax war with Washington State died in committee Wednesday on a 0-5 vote.
Sponsored by Senators Case and Ogden Driskill along with the Representatives Larsen Lloyd, and Tom Walters, the bill would have levied an excise tax of 3.5 percent on the annual gross energy earnings produced in Wyoming.
The intent of the legislation was to tax wind companies like Rocky Mountain Power that are building an extensive network of wind turbines to power the energy markets in the American northwest, like Oregon and Washington.
The effective date was July 1, but the matter is moot after the vote. The motion died with all five members of the Revenue Committee, including Biteman, French, Ide, McKeown and Pappas voting no.
The legislation was brought by Senator Cale Case of Lander, a longtime opponent of out-of-state wind energy producers.
A similar law passed in Washington State designed to export its tax burden to states like Wyoming, is now being contested in court.
