WHEREAS, many companies are applying for permits for solar and wind farms with no intent to develop said farms; and,
WHEREAS, these permits have no expiration dates; and,
WHEREAS, water and oil and gas permits do have expiration dates; and,
WHEREAS, DEQ has not researched or followed up on wind and solar farm applications to ensure all requirements are followed and met; and,
WHEREAS, the DEQ has recommended to the Industrial Siting Council that these permits be granted without the necessary requirements being fulfilled; and,
WHEREAS, DEQ and other government regulations are inhibiting jobs and the economy; and,
WHEREAS, the Wyoming Republican Party supports reasonable and safe development of all natural resources; and,
WHEREAS, the Wyoming Republican Party recognizes the cost, time, and regulatory difficulty of obtaining permits for mineral extraction on federal, state, or private lands; and,
WHEREAS, the Wyoming Republican Party supports protecting private property rights; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Wyoming Republican Party strongly recommends that DEQ be required to make sure all requirements of the permit applications for Wind and Solar Farms are verified and require the applicant to be bonded and insured before making a recommendation to the Industrial Siting Council; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Wyoming Republican Party calls for the environmental impact study (EIS) process to be dramatically streamlined to reduce said factors; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this process shall include a reasonable cap on the Environmental Impact Statement permitting timeframe; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ), and other government entity’s permitting process of leasing, drilling, and producing minerals should be simplified as well; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Wyoming Republican Party supports prohibiting the use of eminent domain for energy development; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Wyoming Republican Party supports making all taxes, including severance, for wind energy equivalent with mineral taxes; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Wyoming Republican Party calls for responsibility in the current regulatory burden and the restricting of new regulations on business, by the use of cost benefit analysis, and thereby additionally modifying those regulations that thwart the full development of Wyoming natural resources and thereby provide a positive benefit to the business environment.
Passed:
Wyoming Republican Party, 19 Apr 2024 WYGOP State Convention
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