Electricity and Transmission Facilities
An additional significant consideration in energy production and development are transmission facilities—pipelines for natural gas, and electric transmission lines. Natural gas pipeline capacity in Wyoming has lagged behind production potential, and this has been a significant issue for gas producers as it has caused market anomalies that can depress the price of Wyoming natural gas as compared to natural gas produced elsewhere. It is widely recognized that a significant constraint on the development of wind energy will be access to transmission lines. Information on the numerous electric transmission lines under consideration in Wyoming can be found at the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority’s website at http://www.wyia.org. One major natural gas pipeline under construction is the Rockies Express, which will transport natural gas to the Midwest.
Several agencies are developing an environmental impact statement for utility corridors on public lands in the West. You can get more information about that effort at http://corridoreis.anl.gov. The Wyoming Outdoor Council has joined in comments submitted on this environmental impact statement, which you can view by clicking here. In addition, we occasionally provide comments on environmental analyses for transmission facilities that are proposed in Wyoming, such as the Gateway West transmission line, which would cross much of the state.