◆ Gov. Gordon gives overview of work with fossil fuels.

The Kemmerer power plant facilities and new developments in carbon capture were included in Gov. Mark Gordon’s comments to the 2020 Wyoming Press Association (WPA) Convention in Casper, Jan. 24.

“Who would think Wyoming would be at center stage?, Gordon asked, while pointing out carbon capture solutions were already underway or in the planning states. “We have some wonderful laboratories in places like Kemmerer.”

The U.S. Dept. of Energy and University of Wyoming announced in December they would team up in the coming year to conduct carbon capture research at the Kemmerer Naughton facilities. The Glenrock Dave Johnston plant will be included in the program.

Referencing Kemmerer, the Gov. said, “Here is a place we can incorporate some of the forest management we desperately need and actually develop technology that will extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”

In his opening comments to the WPA, the governor expressed concerns over the perspective that fossil fuels are not allowed to be a part of the discussion when seeking solutions to power the nation’s electric grid.

“In the national conversation about how we are going to power our country, we have set up the conversation that fossil fuels are just inherently bad,” he said.

He advised the conversation should acknowledge all technology, both for renewables and fossil fuels. “It is clear renewables play an increasing economic role in the energy supply; it is also clear that technologies have improved remarkably and so have the technologies for fossil fuels.”

He emphasized, “Only through the better development of technology can we actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”

The governor pointed out, a recent irony, noting that while coal production has declined in recent years, carbon emissions have increased and temperatures have risen.

Governor Gordon also acknowledged the importance of Wyoming migration routes when expanding all energy supplies.

“We have some of the longest migration routes for wildlife in the world,” he explained. “So we need to be sensitive about fossil fuel development or renewable development as we locate those, so we can preserve all of the benefits of Wyoming.”

In his comments to the WPA, the governor also referenced a recent lawsuit directed to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking that Wyoming and Montana be granted access to a coal export terminal in Longview, Washington.

“We have the tools to have a robust civic conversation about what Wyoming will look like going forward,” Gov. Gordon summarized. “We have some time to have those conversations and see where Wyoming is going and what we can accomplish.”