ACTION ALERT FROM WYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL
NOTE:
| This week, the bill passed out of the Senate Corporations Committee, which means that it will be considered by the Senate and, if it passes there, the House during the 8-day virtual legislative session that kicks off on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. This also means that time is short, and we need your help. To learn how you can be most effective in speaking out against this bill, we’d like to invite you to join us and the Powder River Basin Resource Council for a special rooftop solar-focused edition of Beers & Bills on Monday.
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By Steff Kessler
Senior Conservation Advocate
The Wyoming Legislature is out to kill rooftop solar. There’s no other way to say it. In their efforts, they want to stop this growing economic sector, destroy 150 jobs, and jeopardize over a dozen small businesses that thrive in our communities.
The Senate Corporations Committee will vote on SF 16, New net-metering systems [https://wyoleg.gov/2021/Introduced/SF0016.pdf] , Tuesday morning, January 19. This is the fourth bill we’ve seen in two years trying to kill rooftop solar. We’ve stopped these efforts in the past and we can do it again — by showing up in sheer numbers. We need a tidal wave of emails to the committee by Monday evening telling them to vote “no” on SF 16.
WRITE TO THE COMMITTEE: https://secure.everyaction.com/ziic1TGJe0Sa1TwnI-W2xw2
Small-scale solar systems help homeowners, businesses, and local governments save electricity and money, but are seen as a threat by utility companies. In two years of public comment, with hundreds of citizens weighing in, no one has testified in support of this legislative agenda except the utilities themselves.
And, the legislature has continually tried to thwart the public’s ability to effectively participate in this public policy discussion. One senator, reflecting back on the process that brought this bill to the general session, stated frankly that it was “not a good day for the Wyoming Legislature.”
—————— WHAT YOU CAN DO ——————
We need to show we won’t be deterred, nor scared away. To affirm our voice in Wyoming’s future, we must show up. Please send a short email today! If you need help crafting your comments, check out our fact sheet. [https://wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/NET-METERING-FACTSHEET-SF16-Senate-Corperations.pdf]
We also encourage you to testify before this committee Tuesday morning. In another effort to squelch the public’s voice, they are limiting public comments to only one hour — a restriction not placed on any of the other 75 bills that will be discussed next week. We need to overwhelm them with your comments and it’s easy to sign up to testify at this link. [https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8Nft-9huT0eIIaKaeck-yA]
It is regrettable that the legislature has not allowed for a balanced and fair discussion on this topic that examines the latest research and data on the impacts and benefits of rooftop solar. Please write to the committee and ask them to vote against SF 16 now, or sign up to testify if you are able.
Thank you for supporting a Wyoming future with rooftop solar and clean energy jobs. Your efforts inspire us.
Here’s a list of the Senate Corporations Committee emails:
Cale.Case@wyoleg.gov [Cale.Case@wyoleg.gov] ; Tara.Nethercott@wyoleg.gov [Tara.Nethercott@wyoleg.gov] ; Charles.Scott@wyoleg.gov [Charles.Scott@wyoleg.gov] ; Ogden.Driskell@wyoleg.gov [Ogden.Driskell@wyoleg.gov] ; Brian.Boner@wyoleg.gov [Brian.Boner@wyoleg.gov]
Please feel free to reach out to me [stephanie@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org] if you have any questions.
Wyoming Outdoor Council
262 Lincoln Street | Lander, WY 82520