From below:
While the text of this bill may be more of a political stunt, the energy
grid of Wyoming isn't exactly set up for optimized clean EV charging,
with coal-fired power plants producing about 73% of the state's
electricity and 3/5ths of its electricity sent out of state.
NB: Because the current SCOTUS prohibited the EPA from controlling
carbon emissions
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1103595898/supreme-court-epa-climate-change
the cited use of fossil fuels, and in particular, coal fired electrical
power plants that typically emit more radioisotopes than a properly
functioning nuclear fission power plant along with particulates and
carbon dioxide, will offset most if not all gains from the elimination
of internal combustion engines. End NB
https://news.yahoo.com/wyoming-legislators-want-ban-evs-153300645.html
Autoweek
Wyoming Legislators Want to Ban EVs by 2035
Emmet White
Wed, January 18, 2023 at 7:33 AM PST
GOP state legislators in Wyoming have introduced a bill proposing a
state ban on the sale of electric vehicles by 2035.
The bill claims Wyoming's power grid isn't set up for EV charging
and that disposing of EV batteries will be challenging for municipal
landfills, in addition to citing the importance of crude oil and gas to
the state economy.
Wyoming's state legislature has yet to vote on the proposal, but
the bill would also discourage state residents from purchasing EVs prior
to 2035, if passed.
Bucking the electrification trend growing across the nation, state
legislators from Wyoming are threatening to ban electric vehicles.
Seriously, a group of six GOP lawmakers led by Senator Jim Anderson,
R-Casper, introduced a bill that aims to ban the sale of EVs in Wyoming
by 2035, the year that many states are set to ban the sale of
internal-combustion vehicles.
Known as State Senate Joint Resolution NO. SJ0004, the proposal is in
its fledgling stage after being introduced last week. The text of the
bill cites the oil and gas industry as being one of the Cowboy State's
proudest industries and one that is responsible for a significant
revenue stream as well as mass employment for the people of Wyoming.
Citing the historic usefulness of gas-powered vehicles in enabling
continued growth in the state, these legislators claim that "Wyoming's
vast stretches of highway, coupled with a lack of electric vehicle
charging infrastructure, make the widespread use of electric vehicles
impracticable for the state."
Additionally, the bill cites supply and environmental concerns over the
continued production and subsequent disposal of EV batteries, claiming
municipal landfill employees will require additional training and
equipment to deal with these batteries. Other concerns include the
charging infrastructure tax on Wyoming's power grid and a supposed
inability to adequately engage in interstate commerce if electric
vehicles are introduced en-masse to the state. "The misadventure of
electric vehicles," as these legislators call it, will not be allowed to
impede trucking routes nor undermine the preservation of the country's
critical minerals, at least not under their watch.
That is, if the bill is voted on and ratified by Wyoming's
Republican-controlled 60-member House of Representatives and 30-person
Senate. At that point, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon would have three days
to sign the legislation. Even if he doesn't respond, the bill goes into
effect, at which point Wyoming consumers will be unable to buy an EV
after 2035. In addition, Wyoming residents will be discouraged from
buying an electric vehicle prior to the 2035 ban.
Lastly, the final resolution states that the passed bill will be
distributed to the President of the United States as well as the
President of the US Senate, the Speaker of the US House of
Representatives, and the Governor of California, for reasons we can only
assume are spiteful.
This proposal signals a strong opposition to state-by-state and federal
moves toward clean energy and emissions reduction plans that include
new-sales bans of internal-combustion vehicles. Following California's
lead, a total of 15 other states have introduced plans to phase out new
gas-powered vehicles, with phase-out dates ranging from 2030 to 2035.
While some states like Massachusetts and California are planning for
outright sales bans by 2035, other states like Minnesota and Colorado
are simply setting emissions or sales goals but have yet to commit to
full bans. At a federal level, President Biden has launched a plan to
make half of all new US vehicles electric by 2030, but this target is
not legally binding.
The messaging is clear. Wyoming is asserting that its needs differ from
others across the country, and that it can set a similar but also vastly
different precedent in propulsion choice. While the text of this bill
may be more of a political stunt, the energy grid of Wyoming isn't
exactly set up for optimized clean EV charging, with coal-fired power
plants producing about 73% of the state's electricity and 3/5ths of its
electricity sent out of state.
