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25LSO-0319
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0319
Numbered
2.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0083
Large energy project funding-legislative approval.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Steinmetz, Boner, Hutchings, Kolb and Pearson and Representative(s) Bear, Heiner, Knapp, Rodriguez-Williams, Strock and Styvar
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to the administration of the government; creating the large energy project funding program; providing requirements for large energy projects; requiring legislative approval for large energy projects; providing definitions; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 9
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25
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101 and 9
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25
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102 are created to read:
CHAPTER 25
LARGE ENERGY PROJECT FUNDING
9
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25
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101.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this chapter:
(i)
"Awarding entity" means any state or local governmental entity that awards, grants or loans state funds for large energy projects;
(ii)
"Energy project" means any research, demonstration, pilot, commercial deployment or any other project that relates to Wyoming energy needs, including but not limited to carbon capture utilization and storage, carbon dioxide transportation, industrial carbon capture, coal refinery, hydrogen production, energy transportation or storage, hydrogen hub development, critical minerals, biomass, biochar, hydropower, lithium, energy processing and separation, battery storage, wind energy and solar energy;
(iii)
"Governmental entity" means the state, the University of Wyoming, cities and towns, counties, school districts, joint powers boards, airport boards, public corporations, entities formed by a county memorial hospital, special hospital district, rural health care district or senior health care district that are wholly owned by one (1) or more governmental entities, community college districts, special districts and their governing bodies, all political subdivisions of the state, and their agencies, instrumentalities and institutions;
(iv)
"Large energy project" means an energy project for which the total amount of state funds sought or previously awarded equals or exceeds four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00);
(v)
"State funds" means any funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the state legislature for energy projects.
9
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25
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102.
Large energy projects; approval.
(a)
Not later than November 1 of each year, each awarding entity shall report to the joint appropriations committee on awards of state funds for large energy projects, including:
(i)
The name of each applicant for and recipient of state funds for a proposed large energy project;
(ii)
The amount of state funds recommended by the awarding entity to be awarded to each recipient for large energy projects;
(iii)
Whether any matching funds are or will be provided in addition to the state funds to be awarded for large energy projects;
(iv)
The amount of state funds awarded and expended for large energy projects in the preceding fiscal year, by large energy project and recipient, for which approval was authorized under subsection (b) of this section.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided by law, no state funds shall be expended for large energy projects except upon legislative authorization or as authorized in this subsection. Following legislative authorization for an awarding entity to award state funds for a large energy project, the awarding entity may award additional state funds for that large energy project not to exceed a total of an additional two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) and shall forward a notice of the award of additional state funds to the joint appropriations committee not later than thirty (30) days after each award of additional state funds. Subsequent legislative authorization shall be required for any award of state funds for the specific large energy project in excess of the limits of this subsection.
For purposes of this subsection, legislative authorization shall be through the enactment of a bill.
Section 2.
W.S. 9
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12
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104 by creating a new subsection (c) and 37
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5
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503 by creating a new subsection (k) are amended to read:
9
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12
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104.
General powers and duties of the council.
(c)
The council shall comply with W.S. 9
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25
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101 and 9
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25
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102 before awarding, granting or lending any funds under this act for large energy projects as defined by W.S. 9
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25
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101(a)(iii).
37
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5
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503.
Purposes; report.
(k)
The authority shall comply with W.S. 9
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25
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101 and 9
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25
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102 before awarding, granting or lending any funds for large energy projects as defined by W.S. 9
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25
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101(a)(iii).
Section 3
.
This act shall apply to all large energy projects for which the legislature appropriates state funds on and after July 1, 2025.
Section 4
.
This act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(END)
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SF0083