Wyoming

Wyoming lawmakers consider energy deregulation for data centers, industrial power

Published

1 month ago

June 5, 2026

Wyoming lawmakers consider energy deregulation for data centers, industrial power

CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee is considering a proposal to exempt some electricity generators from public utility regulations to meet power demands from state industries^.

The draft bill would allow electricity producers to operate outside utility rules if they serve one customer with a demand of at least 25 megawatts. It would also apply if they serve up to four customers with a combined demand of at least 100 megawatts. A staff alternative would limit the exemption to new or expanded power demands after July 1, 2027.

Supporters said utility rules slow economic growth and fail to meet the needs of industrial consumers^.

“The facts on the ground have not changed,” said Pete Obermueller, president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming. “We are in a situation where electricity customers in the entire state essentially are facing one of three, and in some cases multiple, problems as it relates to electricity price, capacity and reliability.”

Jody Levin, representing the Wyoming Mining Association and the trona industry, said her sector is vulnerable to power disruptions. She said the industry can’t rely on the alternate draft that only addresses future load growth. A recent 15-minute power disruption damaged a boiler, took a plant offline for three months and cost revenue, she said.

“We are not asking for widespread deregulation, but we are asking for when you find yourself in these very challenging situations, you can’t get power, you’re seeing reliability disruptions, when is it appropriate for you to then have a mechanism to protect your operations,” Levin said^.

Mary Throne, representing data center developer Prometheus Hyperscale, the developer behind the proposed 1.5-gigawatt data center project straddling the Natrona-Converse county line, also supported the bill.

“I think generation flexibility is necessary to meet the demands of data center development,” Throne said^{. She said third-party generation is a tweak to the utility model^.}

Utilities opposed the legislation^{. They said bypassing the grid could leave residents to pay the costs^.}

Thom Carter, representing Rocky Mountain Power, said the current draft fails to protect customers from the financial risks of stranded assets or the costs of maintaining backup power reserves.

“Both versions … do not exempt the risk for if you’re going to leave,” he said, adding that without protections, “my current ratepayer then has to carry the cost and the risk for the backup.” Carter said the company is developing an alternative to offer different tools for varying load sizes.

David Bush of Black Hills Energy said the bill could threaten the company’s power contract tariff in Cheyenne. The tariff uses industrial growth to keep base rates low for other customers, a tool that’s been cited by Cheyenne city leaders as being directly responsible for protecting ratepayers amid the city’s recent data center industry’s growth.

Rural electric cooperatives also opposed the draft bill. They said they’re already developing tariffs and micro-grid concepts to serve customers quickly without legal changes.

Chris Petrie, deputy chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission, said his agency is working on rules to create a designation for non-public utility generators. Utilities have a legal obligation to serve their territories, he said.

“The idea here is that we want safe, adequate, and reliable service at just and reasonable rates to be available everywhere in the state,” he said.

The committee opted to carry the bill forward to its next meeting in August without making any immediate amendments.

Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Big Horn/Washakie counties, introduced a motion to advance the bill using only the first option of the draft, but withdrew it after legislative staff said no motion was needed to advance a bill as-is.

The committee also supported a motion by Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Laramie County, to draft a second bill to put the Public Service Commission’s proposed rules into law. The senator said the new draft would “provide some statutory authority which is more powerful than rulemaking” and give the Legislature a vehicle to solve the issue.

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Wyoming

Wyoming Supreme Court upholds 125- to 175-year conviction for Steven Marler after child sexual abuse trial in 2025

Published

11 hours ago

July 17, 2026

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Wyoming Supreme Court upholds 125- to 175-year conviction for Steven Marler after child sexual abuse trial in 2025

CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Supreme Court has upheld the 2025 conviction of Steven Randall Marler, 52, who was sentenced to 125 to 175 years in prison on eight felony counts of sexually abusing two girls under his foster or adoptive care at his home on Casper Mountain. Marler was also convicted of five misdemeanor batteries and a count of child endangerment. He was found not guilty of sexual abusing another two other minors in the family, including the one who had first brought forward allegations in 2016.

The Supreme Court opinion noted that discrepancies in her testimony from previous statements were revealed at trial.

The appeal claimed that the Natrona County court where the trial was held improperly admitted testimony about physical abuse and Marler’s insistence that the children give him massages, which they said he referred to as a “daddy tax.”

The massages did not result in charges, and Wyoming courts are strict in disallowing evidence of “prior bad acts” for uncharged conduct that might color the opinion of the jury about whether the defendant is guilty of the actual charges.

The opinion released Friday and written by Justice Robert C. Jarosh noted that the Natrona Court, under Judge Kerri Johnson, had multiple hearings before the trial about whether the state should be allowed to introduce that evidence. It can only do so under specific circumstances, such as establishing a course of conduct relevant to “grooming behavior” and illustrating the power Marler held over the children and his ability and motivation in carrying out the abuse.

“The “daddy tax” massage evidence demonstrated a predictable, recurring pattern of behavior that directly illuminated Mr. Marler’s motive and systematic course of conduct,” the opinion reads. “The “daddy tax” massage evidence demonstrated a clear behavioral pattern and provided relevant context about how Mr. Marler targeted and groomed the children by exploiting his parental role and initiating abuse through seemingly innocent touching — all as a means to gratify his sexual desires.”

The opinion also noted that the jury had been properly instructed not to infer guilt based on the testimony about uncharged behavior they might find off-putting.

The appeal attorneys also argued that evidence of punishment in the form of spanking, exercise and withholding food was not relevant to the charged crimes and unfairly prejudicial to Marler.

“However, we agree with the district court this evidence was relevant to show Mr. Marler’s intent and motive to gain submission by the victims,” Friday’s opinion said.

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Wyoming

NWSR issues Flood Watch advisory for portions of Central, Northwest Wyoming

Published

23 hours ago

July 17, 2026

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NWSR issues Flood Watch advisory for portions of Central, Northwest Wyoming

The National Weather Service in Riverton has issued a Flood Watch advisory for portions of central and northwest Wyoming, including Owl Creek, the Bridger Mountains, the Southwest Bighorn Basin, the Absaroka Mountains, and the Cody Foothills. This includes the cities of Cody, Thermopolis, Meeteetse, and Clark, and many areas near or partially in Fremont County. […]

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Wyoming

Wyoming Rodeo Stars Set for National High School Finals

Published

1 day ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Rodeo Stars Set for National High School Finals

The 78th National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) starts on Sunday, July 19, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and goes through Saturday, July 25, 2026. There are 12 rodeo performances across the seven days, with six in the first round and six in the second round. The top 20 cowboys and cowgirls return to the championship short round at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Wyoming has 51 contestants competing across the 13 rodeo events, plus light rifle and trap shooting.

WYOMING RODEO ATHLETES OPEN COMPETITION AT NHSFR

Yoder’s Hadley Thompson was the All-Around Cowgirl at the 2025 NHSFR. She won national titles in the breakaway roping and goat last year in Rock Springs. Wyoming finished 11th in the team standings last year with 3,750.00 team points. The Cowboy State’s girls placed sixth, and the boys were 25th. Thompson also had the AQHA Horse of the Year for Cowgirls in CD Smokin Miss Kitty. Emeree Tavegie was sixth in pole bending.

The daily rodeo performances are at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The first go ends after Wednesday morning’s performance, while the second go ends after Saturday morning’s performance.

Wyoming State High School Finals Rodeo Results & NHSFR Qualifiers 2026

Wyoming’s contestants and events with their draw

Ryley Alameda – Reined Cow Horse (Mon AM, Thurs PM)

Wade Asay – Reined Cow Horse (Tues PM, Wed AM)

Claire Bilek – Girls Cutting (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Kolton Bonenberger – Bull Riding (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Jace Bowles – Team Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Cooper Brownlee – Shooting Rifle and Shooting Trap

Blue Butler – Breakaway Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM); Goat Tying (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Kolbe Chant – Tie-Down Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Heston Crozier – Shooting Trap

Blake Cushman – Pole Bending (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Karly Davis – Barrel Racing (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Teague Duncan – Saddle Bronc (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Memphis Erdman – Shooting Rifle

Hays Espenscheid – Team Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Kendrie Ewing – Barrel Racing (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Ellie Feathers – Shooting Rifle

Kashley Fornstrom – Barrel Racing (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Kade Fraley – Saddle Bronc (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Landon Gold – Team Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM); Steer Wrestling (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Teague Goodman – Steer Wrestling (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Tanner Griemsman – Team Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Cody Hayden – Boys Cutting (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Rhame Hicks – Goat Tying (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Stone Hooten – Shooting Trap

Coe Hornbuckle – Barrel Racing (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Carter Hutchison – Steer Wrestling (Tues PM, Thurs AM); Tie-Down Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM); Reined Cow Horse (Mon AM, Thurs AM)

Kress Johnson – Team Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Taylor Kimzey – Shooting Rifle

Emma Martin – Pole Bending (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Bella Martinson – Breakaway Roping (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Anna McQueeney – Girls Cutting (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Raden Miller – Steer Wrestling (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Taten Mills – Team Roping (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Owen Monfeldt – Bull Riding (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Ashtyn Noland – Reined Cow Horse (Mon PM, Thurs AM)

Keon Norris – Bareback Riding (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Riggin Pearce – Bull Riding (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Bridger Peil – Tie-Down Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Karly Peterson – Girls Cutting (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Nathan Peterson – Boys Cutting (Tues PM, Thurs AM)

Trenton Rogers – Bareback Riding (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Rickie Jo Rourke – Goat Tying (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Tuf Scarborough – Saddle Bronc (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Ty Scarborough – Saddle Bronc (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Stetson St. Clair – Bull Riding (Wed AM, Wed PM); Team Roping (Sun PM, Sat AM)

Whitney Tarver – Team Roping (Mon PM, Fri AM)

Emeree Tavegie – Pole Bending (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Dylan Thar – Breakaway Roping (Tues AM, Thurs PM)

Hadley Thompson – Breakaway Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM); Pole Bending (Tues PM, Thurs AM); Goat Tying (Wed AM, Wed PM)

Cruz Viles – Team Roping (Mon AM, Fri PM)

Tuf Weber – Shooting Trap

The Light Rifle competition is on Tuesday, July 21, and the Short Go is on Wednesday, July 22 at 1:30 p.m. The Trap Shooting competition is on Thursday, July 23, and the Short Go is on Friday, July 24 at 8 a.m. The Reined Cow Horse event will start on Monday, July 20, and go through Thursday, July 23, each day at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Reined Cow Horse Championship Short Go is on Friday at 4 p.m. The Cutting Events start on Sunday at 7 p.m., then will run at 9 a.m. from Monday through Friday. The 12th Cutting performance is Saturday, July 25 at 8 a.m. The Cutting Championship Short Go is on Saturday at 2 p.m.