Dear editor:
Open letter to Sens. Lummis and Barrasso and Rep. Hageman –
In Wyoming skepticism toward the federal government runs deep, as you know well. We also value honor: When someone shakes hands – or signs a contract – we expect them to uphold that promise.
Many ranchers, farmers, and other homeowners received award letters from federal agencies saying they would be paid for projects authorized by Congress in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Over the last two years Wyoming residents had worked with the state and with local governments to design projects that fit their specific needs.
They started work on these projects – in many cases on their own dime – and now suddenly the Trump Administration is withholding the money?
These Wyomingites did not operate under any political agenda. They wanted to preserve their way of life, and if someone offered to help them save money, they were interested.
Compared to other states, people in our state typically spend three times more on energy as a percentage of our income, according to Department of Energy data.
Tribes have even more reason to be skeptical of the federal government, but they too were willing to believe that contracts would be adhered to. The Inflation Reduction Act promised $7 billion for Wyoming alone, according to reporting from Wyoming Public Media.
However, President Trump issued Executive Order 14154 in March putting these funds on hold.
The executive order’s language clearly targets programs that use the words “climate,” “environmental justice,” or “solar.” Really? Does the mention of these words justify breaking all those promises?
Wyoming has a lot at stake. Hundreds of projects in Wyoming may have been impacted by the funding freeze.
These programs, authorized by Congress, were designed to increase energy efficiency, lower utility costs, reduce emissions, and increase local resiliency. One of those programs, REAP (Rural Energy for America), has been helping our friends and neighbors for over 20 years to meet their energy bills.
We hope that you, our elected representatives, will stand up for the people of Wyoming.
Support the infrastructure programs’ funding that was already approved for Wyoming. This is not about efficiency or local control. This is about breaking promises and saving money to give billionaires tax breaks.
Sincerely,
Marjane Ambler
Atlantic City, Wyoming
