Wyoming Bill Puts Pressure on Utilities on Closing Plants

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A legislative proposal would require utilities to search for buyers before retiring a coal-fired power plant in Wyoming.

Senate File 159 states that failing to do so would result in the state restricting a utility's ability to make a financial return on whatever it replaces the coal plant with, such as a wind farm or natural gas plant.

Wyoming is the largest provider of coal in the country.

Republican Sen. Eli Bebout, of Riverton, is one of the bill's sponsors.

Bebout says the bill rises out of concerns about the impact to Wyoming jobs with the possible closure of coal plants.

Connie Wilbert, of the Wyoming Sierra Club chapter, said the measure is misguided.