Wyoming Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in Wyoming. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for Wyoming. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
- State leadership
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for Wyoming
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
Wyoming is the nation's top coal producer and accounts for more coal production than the next four coal-producing states combined. Wyoming also contains major reserves of natural gas, and like other states in the region, is experiencing a boom in natural gas production. And the state contains 3% of the nation's petroleum reserves.
Read a more complete energy summary for Wyoming, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Wyoming Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 912 (million Btu) |
State rank | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 666.6 (million Btu) |
State rank | 2 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | 0.6% | State rank | 10 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 2.6% | State rank | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 780 (million kWh) |
State rank | 31 |
Wyoming has a traditional regulated market for electric power. Electricity consumption is growing at 2.6% per year, which is one-fifth higher than the national average. At the same time, Wyoming has the smallest population of any state, which is growing at less than one-third the national average.
Wyoming contains large wind energy resources and ranks seventh among states with wind energy potential. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the state had 350 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity at the beginning of 2008. Read more Wyoming electric power and renewable energy statistics published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 26% of all energy consumption in Wyoming, which makes it the second largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy, after industry. Almost one in 10 fueling stations in Wyoming provide alternative fuels, which is the highest percentage among all states. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in Wyoming from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 678 (gallons) |
State rank | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 0 (gallons) |
State rank | 27 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 61 | State rank | 1 |
| Population | 507,000 | State rank | 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 29.7% | State rank | 50 |
| Annual population growth rate | 0.3% | State rank | 44 |
| Per capita personal income | $37,305 | State rank | 10 |
| Gross state product | $29,561 (million) |
State rank | 49 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for Wyoming put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
Wyoming has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
State agencies are required to purchase or generate 20% of their electricity from renewable energy by 2011.
Grants for energy efficiency
Through the Small Business Energy Audit program, Wyoming provides grants up to $4,000 to small businesses for 75% of a level-2 energy audit.
Rebates for renewable energy
The photovoltaic incentive program provides rebates of up to $3,000 for residential PV installations
State Leadership
Governor Dave Freudenthal (D) began serving as governor in 2003. Previously, he served as the U.S. attorney for Wyoming from 1994–2001.
The Wyoming Legislature is composed of a senate with 30 members and a house of representatives with 60 members. The legislature is usually in regular session for 2–3 months starting in January or February. The senate majority leader is John Hines (R). The senate minority leader is Ken Decaria (D). The speaker for the house of representatives is Roy Cohee (R).
The Wyoming Public Service Commission oversees the electric, gas, pipeline water, telecommunication, and gas industries. The commission chairman is Kathleen A. Lewis.
The Wyoming Business Council administers the DOE State Energy Program in Wyoming and advises the state's executive and elected leaders about energy policy. The office director is Ben Avery. The DOE State Energy Program publishes contact information for the Wyoming energy office.
