Wyoming may be one of just a few states aggressively developing wind energy, but the new National Environmental Scorecard released today by the League of Conservation Voters ranks the state last when it comes congressional representation on energy and conservation issues.
The organization has put the tally together for 30 years, and this past year, there were several national votes to track on protecting air and water and on promoting clean energy development. Wyoming’s delegation got the lowest scores in the nation, voting in favor of almost no bills on those topics in the report.
The executive director of the organization Wyoming Conservation Voters, Kate Wright, says that’s not good news.
“Wyoming is ill-served by a delegation that does not reflect the will of the citizens who live here, with regard to the state’s unique wildlife and wild lands.”
There’s been a big push for wind energy development in Wyoming, and Wright says state policy to encourage that needs to be matched at the federal level.
“Both our senators and our congresswoman need to do more to protect our clean air, water, public lands, and wildlife, supporting what’s going on in Wyoming at a national level.”
Wyoming’s economy has long been based on fossil fuel development, and federal clean energy policies and new rules for clean air and water could slow those industries, which can explain why the delegation votes the way it does.
Nationally, a record number of senators and members of congress received perfect scores in the report.
The full scorecard is at www.lcv.org
