Last week, Representative Scott Heiner (House District 18) had the privilege of attending Energy Council meetings in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Energy Council is a legislative organization formed to provide a forum for state legislators interested in energy policy and includes 14 American states and two Canadian provinces.
While in Canada, Representative Heiner discussed mutual energy issues with legislators from other energy producing states. Alongside legislators from Utah, Representative Heiner worked on the initial stages of building a new coal-fired power demonstration plant in Southwest Wyoming. The plant will be based on the new Staged Pressurized Oxy-Combustion (SPOC) design currently being pilot-tested at Washington University in St. Louis and will use Wyoming coal, natural gas, and biomass for fuel.
This project will include research teams from the University of Wyoming, University of Utah, and Brigham Young University, and will operate using funds from both Wyoming and Utah. Matching funds from the Wyoming Energy Association will be applied for to fund Wyoming’s share of the project. These funds were appropriated in Senate File 123 passed earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature. The demonstration facility will ultimately become a commercial facility with a continuing revenue stream.
“Collaboration between Utah and Wyoming for this innovative coal-fueled electric power plant sends a strong signal to the Federal Government, coal industry, and the private capital market that coal is the fuel of choice and, with the latest scientific advances, can be clean burning and reliable,” said Representative Heiner.
Representative Heiner also had a productive discussion with the Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington, DC about creating a financial backstop for investors in coal to prevent a future presidential administration from undoing what the Trump Administration has done to unleash American and Wyoming coal.
“This kind of collaboration sends a clear message that Wyoming is open for business and that our mineral-rich state can continue to fuel the energy needs in America,” noted Representative Heiner.
Representative Scott Heiner is the House Majority Leader and represents House District 18 in Lincoln, Sweetwater and Uinta Counties.