Opinion piece to be submitted to Casper Star Tribune

Choice Gas fiasco shows flaws
in Wyoming's energy pricing

By Bill Sniffin

When traveling around the state, it is possible to hear more groans and moans about the recent Choice Gas program than just about anything else. There are some serious flaws with our state economy when it comes to energy prices paid by our citizens and this program just points it out once again.

Wyoming is the energy breadbasket of the Western Hemisphere. We have more BTUs here than anywhere else, we are told. What I am being told by our citizens is simply this: "If we live in the energy breadbasket of America, why do we pay such high prices for energy?"

They tell me if they lived in Florida, oranges would be cheap. If they lived in Oregon, lumber would be cheap. If they lived in Iowa, corn would be cheap. Yet, here in the energy breadbasket of America, they are paying among the highest prices in the region for natural gas and gasoline.

And now they are hearing about a proposed 20 percent increase in electrical rates from Pacific Power. The next governor should do everything in his power to lower the costs of energy. A lot of good ideas have been presented to me along the campaign trail, including the idea of Wyoming using some of its money to participate in public-private partnerships to stimulate energy production.

Another idea is to promote more public utilities in our cities, towns and counties with a goal of eliminating the middleman in the purchase of natural gas and electricity.

And finally, there is the idea of the state actually owning part of the supply of natural gas and/or electricity.
These ideas all deserve scrutiny. The next governor should do everything in his power to figure out which could be the best course and then tackle this pricing problem head-on.

However, the best idea is my energy rebate idea. During times when energy prices are out of line, Wyoming's people should be entitled to get a check back from their state government - in recognition of the artificially high prices being paid in our state for energy.

Some observers think we might need a constitutional amendment to do this. If so, we need to get started. But my plan would involve sending about $300 back to every adult in Wyoming (when the state can afford it) as compensation for having to pay such high prices for energy here in the energy breadbasket of America.
People around Wyoming are saying this like this idea. And besides giving everyone a small financial boost, it would stimulate the overall economy, too.

The struggles that Wyoming people have been going through with their Choice Gas situation just point out, once again, how unfair the energy pricing systems are in our state is to the citizens, themselves.