Solar power in Wyoming

Solar power in Wyoming has the potential to generate 72 million MWh/yr. Wyoming used 12 million MWh in 1999. Net metering is available to all consumers generating up to 25 kW.^[1] The state has an installed capacity of 146 MW as of 2022.

U.S. solar potential

Facilities

Main article: List of power stations in Wyoming § Solar

The dormitories near Old Faithful Geyser installed 30.78 kW of solar panels in 2015.^[2]

The 92MW Sweetwater Solar project near Green River came online as the first utility-scale solar farm in Wyoming in December 2018.^[3][4] Additional projects are in advanced stages of development to be located near Kemmerer as the region's economy transitions from a scheduled closure of the Naugton coal plant.^[5][6]

The largest solar farm is the South Cheyenne Solar Facility in Laramie County at 150 MW.^[7] Developers have proposed a 771 MW project near Cheyenne.^[8]

Statistics

Source: NREL[9]

Wyoming Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[10][11][12][13][14][15]
Year	Capacity	Change	% Change
2009	0.1
2010	0.2	0.1	100%
2011	0.2	<0.1	0%
2012	0.6	0.4	200%
2013	1.0	0.4	66%
2014	1.2	0.2	20%
2015	1.5	0.3	25%
2016	1.9	0.4	26%
2017	2.3	0.4	21%
2018	112.3	110	4,782%
2019	117.6	5.3	4%
2020	140	22.4	19%
2021	141.9	1.9	%
2022	146	4.1	%

Utility-scale solar generation in Wyoming (GWh)^[16]

Year	Total	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2018	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2019	179	7	9	16	16	19	23	23	22	17	14	8	5
2020	166	8	13	15	20	21	20	9	18	15	11	9	7
2021	135	8	11	15	19	21	21	21	19

See also

• Renewable energy portal
• Energy portal

• Wind power in Wyoming
• Solar power in the United States
• Renewable energy in the United States

References

1. Wyoming - Net Metering Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Wyoming Solar Power - Yellowstone Park". OnSite Energy. 2016. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
3. "Wyoming - Rock Springs FO - Sweetwater Solar Energy Project". Bureau of Land Management. 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
4. Richards, Heather (2019-02-18). "With another solar development in the wings, is a new renewable coming for Wyoming?". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
5. Mike Koshmrl, Jackson Hole News & Guide (2019-01-29). "Solar farms sprout in southwest Wyoming". Rocket-Miner. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
6. Richards, Heather (January 31, 2019). "Solar farm proposed as coal unit blinks out in Kemmerer". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
7. Power, Southern. "Southern Power's South Cheyenne Solar Facility in Wyoming is now operational". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
8. Edwards, Joe (2024-05-17). "Satellite image shows plans for vast new solar farm in US". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
9. "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
10. Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
11. Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2011-06-29.
12. Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
13. Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
14. Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
15. Wyoming Solar
16. "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Department of Energy. March 28, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2021.

External links

• The Open PV Project
• Incentives and Policies