A coalition of Wyoming ranchers, businesses, and environmentalists joined forces to support legislation expanding rooftop solar installations in the state, Inside Climate News reports.
Advocates argued that solar power could lower electricity costs and increase energy independence, though climate benefits were rarely mentioned. Despite broad bipartisan support, the bill ultimately failed in the state Senate.
Jason Thornock, a rancher from Cokeville, Wyoming, sought to install rooftop solar panels to offset his rising electricity costs. His utility, Rocky Mountain Power, had raised rates by more than 20% over two years, significantly impacting his $150,000 annual power bill. Thornock saw net metering—a policy that allows solar users to send excess power to the grid for bill credits—as a way to level the playing field against utility monopolies.
Thornock testified before Wyoming lawmakers in favor of House Bill 183 (H.B.183), which aimed to expand the amount of rooftop solar that schools, municipal buildings, and businesses could install. Sponsored by Republican Representative Scott Heiner, a member of the state’s conservative Freedom Caucus, the bill proposed increasing the maximum allowable solar system size from 25 kilowatts to 200 kilowatts, allowing larger facilities to significantly reduce electricity expenses.
H.B.183 passed overwhelmingly in the state House, with only six lawmakers opposing it. However, in the Senate, amendments added to the bill led some supporters to withdraw their backing, and it ultimately fell one vote short of passage.
Heiner, a former oil and gas industry worker, expressed frustration over the bill’s failure, stating that some of his Senate colleagues had deliberately undermined its intent. Despite the setback, he remains committed to bringing the legislation back in a future session.
One of the most notable aspects of the bill was the unlikely alliance behind it. Ranchers, small business owners, and municipal leaders joined environmental advocates in pushing for the expansion of net metering. While climate concerns were not the main driver, supporters emphasized the economic benefits and energy independence that rooftop solar could provide.
Public opinion in Wyoming also leans in favor of rooftop solar. A 2023 study by the University of Wyoming found that 70% of residents viewed rooftop solar as a favorable energy source, ranking it higher than coal mining and coal-fired power plants.
Opponents of net metering argue that solar customers could shift costs onto those who don’t have rooftop panels by avoiding fixed utility charges. Wyoming utilities expressed concern that increasing net metering capacity could impact infrastructure costs, even though fewer than 1% of Wyoming’s electricity customers currently participate in net metering. Experts note that cost-shifting becomes a significant issue only when 10-20% of customers generate their own solar power, a threshold Wyoming is far from reaching.
Despite concerns, many supporters see net metering as a way to promote self-sufficiency.
“We have plenty of people who talk about it purely from the standpoint of wanting to feel a sense of independence,” said Scott Kane, co-owner of Creative Energies Solar, a rooftop solar installation company.
Although H.B.183 failed this session, lawmakers and advocates see momentum for future efforts. Heiner plans to reintroduce a similar bill, believing that the coalition of Freedom Caucus members, ranchers, businesses, and environmentalists will continue to push for change.
“There’s no reason for politics to get in the way of good policy,” Heiner said. “I’m willing to work with anybody and everyone to further what we see as good policy to benefit the state of Wyoming.”
