Wyoming’s Energy Reality Check: The Time to Build is Now

Power demand in the U.S. is expected to surge by 50% within the next five years. Yes, you read that right, 50%. Yet, when it comes to how we’re going to meet that demand, national energy leaders have offered more question marks than answers. With permitting for critical energy infrastructure averaging a glacial seven years, the math doesn’t add up.

Data centers, electric vehicles, smart homes, and manufacturing growth are pushing our grid to its limits. While we still enjoy some of the nation’s lowest electricity rates here in Wyoming (9.15 cents/kWh), our costs have risen 12.68% in five years, and supply is struggling to keep up.

The White House recently declared a National Energy Emergency, calling America’s lack of domestic infrastructure a direct threat to economic and national security. Wyoming must lead the charge, because this is more than avoiding blackouts. It’s about creating jobs, attracting industries, and powering tomorrow’s economy.

The Challenge: Demand is Up. Permitting is Too Slow.

Permitting delays are strangling energy projects. It takes 7 years, on average, to approve new infrastructure. We don’t have that kind of time.

The Solution: Powering Progress

Through our statewide initiative, Powering Progress, the Wyoming Chamber is working alongside energy leaders, legislators, and businesses to drive:

• Faster permitting on public and private lands

• Expanded energy generation across coal, gas, wind, solar, nuclear, and hydrogen

• Modernized infrastructure and workforce development to stay competitive

• Policy reforms that protect existing industries while accelerating innovation

Wyoming has the energy. Now we need the urgency and policy to match. Because here’s the reality: If we don’t start building now, we’ll be in the dark — literally and economically.