Dear editor:
Wyoming has always been an energy leader. For generations, we've powered the country with our natural resources, supporting good jobs and building a strong economy along the way.
Today, Wyoming is the third-largest net energy supplier among all 50 states. This legacy must continue, and it must extend to new technologies that can complement what Wyoming already does so well.
That's why I've been paying close attention to the recent debates in Congress on the future of pivotal tax legislation and recently visited with Senator Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Hageman (WY-AL) in Washington, D.C.
My message is simple: Federal energy tax incentives have catalyzed business investment, economic growth, and job creation in energy-producing states like Wyoming.
As the CEO of Airloom Energy, a Laramie, Wyoming-based wind technology company, I've seen firsthand how tax credits shape the decisions of developers, manufacturers, and investors alike.
These tools help build businesses, attract private capital, maintain a strong customer base, and keep both Wyoming and America competitive in a rapidly evolving global energy market.
At Airloom, we've designed a new kind of wind energy system with a smaller visual signature aimed at lowering energy costs for households, increasing energy resilience, and expanding where wind can be economically deployed.
Our roots are in Wyoming — the best state in the country to do business for five years running, I might add.
We've created jobs and brought nearly $20 million of investment to the state. We want to cement Wyoming's future as a place where cutting-edge energy companies can grow and thrive.
We're not alone. Across the state, new investments are flowing into energy-related ventures, from manufacturing to advanced research to the AI data centers we've seen pop up around Cheyenne.
A lot of that growth is tied closely to the tax incentive structure Congress put in place just a few years ago. Undoing it now would send the wrong signal to companies deciding where to invest next.
As we've seen over the last few years, Wyoming's historical energy leadership can be combined with future-focused economic development and job creation. Our state has always exported energy, and modernizing the way we do that can further strengthen our economy for decades to come.
I've spent most of my career trying to help build technologies that solve real problems, and the world needs more resilient, low-cost energy. Wyoming is well-positioned to deliver it, if we keep the door open.
Congress should protect the tools that are working. Let's keep energy investment flowing into Wyoming and throughout the country by giving all businesses the certainty they need to build, hire, and grow.
Sincerely,
Neal Rickner, CEO
Airloom Energy
