Governor Mark Gordon Signs Bills Supporting Energy, Agriculture Priorities

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed the first two bills of the eight-day virtual legislative session Monday. According to a media release from the Governor’s office, the bills are pieces of legislation that Governor Gordon supported that provide a boost to the state’s energy, minerals and agricultural industries. The new laws direct the Wyoming Energy Authority to support efforts to expand the state’s rare earth minerals industry and implement recommendations made by his Invasive Species Initiative.

Senate file 43- ‘Wyoming Energy Authority Amendments’, adds geothermal and pumped hydro energy projects to the list of projects that can be supported by the Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA). The changes also allow the WEA to support and issue bonds, under their existing authority, for projects involving rare earth minerals, critical materials, trona and other minerals.

The Governor also signed House Bill 53- ‘Invasive Plant Species.’  The legislation implements several of the recommendations made in the final report of the Governor’s Invasive Species Initiative and allows local districts more latitude when implementing special management programs for invasive species.

The Governor also signed other bills that support and add to Wyoming’s economy in the coming year. Those include approval of large projects for wildlife conservation and water development. These projects bolster the economy through construction, and the long-term benefits will also support wildlife, tourism, agriculture and highway safety.