Wyoming Utility Drops Wind and Solar from Long-Term Planning
Rocky Mountain Power, Wyoming’s largest electric utility and a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, has removed wind and solar energy projects from its long-term resource plan for the period 2027 through 2045. The decision, detailed in an updated planning document, halts new renewable installations in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and California. The utility attributes this strategic shift primarily to the July 2025 repeal of major portions of the Inflation Reduction Act via the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which eliminated significant tax credits for renewable energy. Consequently, the economic feasibility of wind and solar has diminished, potentially making coal more competitive. This move reverses previous growth trajectories and suggests an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, as coal plant retirements are delayed. While some previously approved projects in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming will proceed, the plan signals a major retreat from renewable development. Critics, including the Sierra Club, argue this creates uncertainty for developers, despite the non-binding nature of such long-term forecasts. The update highlights the impact of federal policy changes on state-level energy infrastructure and cost dynamics for consumers.
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Wyoming Utility Drops Wind and Solar from Long-Term Planning
Rocky Mountain Power, Wyoming’s largest electric utility and a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, has removed wind and solar energy projects from its long-term resource plan for the period 2027 through 2045. The decision, detailed in an updated planning document, halts new renewable installations in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and California. The utility attributes this strategic shift primarily to the July 2025 repeal of major portions of the Inflation Reduction Act via the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which eliminated significant tax credits for renewable energy. Consequently, the economic feasibility of wind and solar has diminished, potentially making coal more competitive. This move reverses previous growth trajectories and suggests an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, as coal plant retirements are delayed. While some previously approved projects in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming will proceed, the plan signals a major retreat from renewable development. Critics, including the Sierra Club, argue this creates uncertainty for developers, despite the non-binding nature of such long-term forecasts. The update highlights the impact of federal policy changes on state-level energy infrastructure and cost dynamics for consumers.
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