Wyoming Said No EVs

Wyoming is having none of this seemingly greener options mess and has decided to try to ban the sale of new electric vehicles in the state by 2035. It's a bit odd and in research we were able to make sense of it, but yes Wyoming is saying no to electric cars.

We've previously covered the pros and cons of switching from fossil fuel vehicles to electric, but if you need a recap we fell along the lines of if you're going electric for moral reasons, don't because electric vehicles are just as bad as fossil fuel-based vehicles but for other reasons (ie: mining, decomposition of batteries, overload to power grids, etc). In the case of Wyoming, however, there seems to be something deeper to them wanting to ban the sale of electric vehicles. Part of the reason appears to be spite - the push for banning electric vehicles comes very close to pushes in other states (such as California and New York) to ban new sales of cars with classic combustion engines.

Before we dive too far into anything else, let's talk about what the legislation actually says. The bill can be found under 23LSO-0334 or by searching Senate Joint resolution No. SJ0004 states in the first few lines that "the oil and gas industry in Wyoming has created countless jobs and has contributed revenues to the state of Wyoming throughout the state's history; and whereas, since its invention, the gas-powered vehicle has enabled the state's industries and businesses to engage in commerce and transport goods and resources more efficiently throughout the country." It's pretty clear where the direction of the bill is going to go from there as the bill then notes that electric vehicle charging infrastructure would not be practical and that the batteries contain minerals whose domestic supply is limited at risk for disruption.

So, it's pretty clear that Wyoming is trying to preserve its dependence on fossil fuels and steer clear of electric vehicles citing practicality, limitations of the state, and concerns about electric vehicle maintenance and disposal. The bill also cites that the U.S. has consistently invested in oil and gas as a whole to back its previous statement about the oil and gas industry specifically in Wyoming in order to further drive home the point that they believe that oil/gas/fossil fuel usage isn't going to just vanish into obscurity. It sounds pretty serious until you get towards the bottom of the bill and see that the legislature encourages Wyoming's industries and citizens to limit the sale and purchase of new electric vehicles with the goal of eventually phasing out the sale of new electric vehicles in Wyoming by 2035. Granted, it does state that at the top as well, but not in as much detail at the bottom of the bill.

What's the big deal? Wyoming is the eight-largest oil producer in the U.S. which is exactly why they are concerned about the rise of electric vehicles. It has also been observed in other states that unless the electric infrastructure of the state has been adjusted to be able to handle the increased volume in charging, that there will be issues as seen by rolling blackouts and rolling blackout warnings in states that have a large volume of electric vehicles like California. Will the legislature make a difference? Potentially, but maybe not. It all depends on how it is enforced and what the reception of the people in the state of Wyoming is like; if most people are behind this bill things will be fine, but if there is any significant resistance it may be difficult to enforce the legislature.

We will be watching to see if there is any new development on this particular topic. 

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