Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an excise tax on the production of electricity from wind resources beginning January 1, 2012.

Highlights:

• Establishes an excise tax of $3 per megawatt hour on the production of electricity from wind resources in the state of Wyoming (Sec. 1). 
• Specifies that the excise tax on the production of electricity from wind resources shall only apply to wind energy facilities which begin commercial operations on or after January 1, 2012 (Sec. 1).
• Specifies that wind energy facilities which begin commercial operations prior to January 1, 2012, shall pay a graduated tax according to the following schedule (Sec. 1):
• $0.25 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2012, until December 31, 2016;
• $0.50 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2017, until December 31, 2021;
• $0.75 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2022, until December 31, 2026;
• $1 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2027, until December 31, 2031; and
• $3 per megawatt hour generated beginning on January 1, 2032.
• Exempts facilities subject to the excise tax from other sales and use taxes (Sec. 1).
• Appropriates 69 percent of the revenue generated from the excise tax to the state general fund, and the remainder to counties, cities and towns (Sec. 1).
• Specifies that until the balance of the state general fund reaches $10 million, or until June 30, 2016, whichever comes first, the state treasurer shall distribute 40 percent of the revenue from the excise tax into an impact assistance account (Sec. 1).
• Specifies that after June 30, 2016, the state treasurer shall distribute 20 percent of the revenue from the excise tax into an impact assistance account (Sec. 1).
• Authorizes counties impacted by a wind energy facility to apply for impact assistance payments, and to receive up to 2 percent of the total value of the wind energy facility in impact assistance payments (Sec. 1).
• This act is effective January 1, 2012 (Sec. 3).

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an excise tax on the production of electricity from wind resources beginning January 1, 2012.

Highlights:

• Establishes an excise tax of $3 per megawatt hour on the production of electricity from wind resources in the state of Wyoming (Sec. 1). 
• Specifies that the excise tax on the production of electricity from wind resources shall only apply to wind energy facilities which begin commercial operations on or after January 1, 2012 (Sec. 1).
• Specifies that wind energy facilities which begin commercial operations prior to January 1, 2012, shall pay a graduated tax according to the following schedule (Sec. 1):
• $0.25 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2012, until December 31, 2016;
• $0.50 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2017, until December 31, 2021;
• $0.75 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2022, until December 31, 2026;
• $1 per megawatt hour generated from January 1, 2027, until December 31, 2031; and
• $3 per megawatt hour generated beginning on January 1, 2032.
• Exempts facilities subject to the excise tax from other sales and use taxes (Sec. 1).
• Appropriates 69 percent of the revenue generated from the excise tax to the state general fund, and the remainder to counties, cities and towns (Sec. 1).
• Specifies that until the balance of the state general fund reaches $10 million, or until June 30, 2016, whichever comes first, the state treasurer shall distribute 40 percent of the revenue from the excise tax into an impact assistance account (Sec. 1).
• Specifies that after June 30, 2016, the state treasurer shall distribute 20 percent of the revenue from the excise tax into an impact assistance account (Sec. 1).
• Authorizes counties impacted by a wind energy facility to apply for impact assistance payments, and to receive up to 2 percent of the total value of the wind energy facility in impact assistance payments (Sec. 1).
• This act is effective January 1, 2012 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text