Eye on the Issues
Welcome to Eye on the Issues, the podcast brought to you by the Wyoming Liberty Group. Whether you're a proud Wyoming resident, hail from the Cowboy State, or simply care deeply about the issues facing Wyoming, this podcast is your go-to resource.
Join us as we delve into the heart of Wyoming's most pressing concerns, offering you insights and perspectives from a diverse range of voices. You'll hear from Wyoming lawmakers and elected officials sharing their viewpoints, along with community and thought leaders who are shaping the future of our great state. We also bring in subject matter experts to provide in-depth analysis and understanding on key issues.
The Wyoming Liberty Group is committed to empowering Wyoming's future. With over 15 years of experience and impact in our state, we're more than just a think tank. While we pride ourselves on rigorous research, we go beyond that to craft innovative solutions that promote free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility, and government accountability.
Tune in to Eye on the Issues to stay informed, engaged, and empowered. Together, we can work towards a brighter future for Wyoming.
Eye on the Issues
Who Pays for Worn-Out Renewables? The Hidden Risks in Wyoming's Renewable Rules
In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Curtis Schube, Executive Director of the Council to Modernize Governance and co-author of a groundbreaking report from the National Center for Energy Analytics. His work takes a deep dive into an overlooked but increasingly urgent question: What happens when wind and solar facilities reach the end of their lifespan—and who pays for it?
Curtis walks us through a state-by-state analysis of financial assurance requirements for the decommissioning of renewable energy sites, revealing a stark contrast between regulations for traditional energy industries and those governing renewable projects. While oil and gas regulators in most states require robust, mandatory financial assurances to ensure sites can be safely reclaimed, the renewable sector lags far behind—earning failing grades in more than half the states surveyed. Wyoming, despite its significant renewable development, is among the states that received an F grade.
We explore why these gaps exist, the risk of “orphaned” renewable sites, and how the lack of sufficient upfront financial protections could ultimately leave taxpayers footing the bill. Curtis also explains the real-world challenges of decommissioning wind turbines and solar panels—from toxic materials to limited landfill availability—and why the shelf life of these technologies may be much shorter than advertised.
This interview highlights a crucial but often ignored part of America’s energy transition: the need to think not just about building new energy systems, but responsibly planning for their end-of-life impacts. For policymakers in Wyoming and beyond, Curtis offers straightforward, actionable guidance rooted in five key regulatory criteria that can help prevent long-term environmental and fiscal liabilities.
The full report is available at https://www.modernizegovernance.org/are-taxpayers-exposed-as-renewable-energy-is-put-on-the-fast-track/ as well as https://energyanalytics.org/hidden-energy-liability/
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