Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead claimed on Monday that Wyoming has found ways to solve its energy issues without federal intervention. In his state of the state address, the governor said Wyoming is exporting more Btus than any other state; minerals, including oil and gas, make up 80% of the state’s revenues.

The governor focused much of the annual message on the state’s energy sector and the need to ensure its longevity. Wyoming has been impacted by low gas prices that are “stuck” in the mid-$2 range, he noted. The state budget recently was cut by $64 million because of the gas price declines (see Daily GPI, Feb. 8).

“The total revenues from minerals in 2010 was $15.5 billion, the second biggest year on record,” said Mead. Wyoming was one of only a handful of states to have its credit rating increased last year to “AAA” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

“Wyoming has remained strong [fiscally] because we are an energy state, or more accurately, Wyoming is the energy state,” he said emphatically. “The mining and the oil and gas industries remain strong. To keep the energy sector strong, we must seek longevity for those industries and maximize the benefits production. We should encourage value-added projects that in addition to adding value also give us new technology, new efficiencies and cleaner uses of our raw products.”

Among other things, he noted that in his recent budget request, he asked for $6 million to support enhanced oil recovery and for added support for gas- and coal-to-liquids projects.

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