Wyoming tries to ban renewable energy

To give a preview of just how bad things could get in the new "Great" America, a group of nine Republican legislators in the state of Wyoming is pushing a new bill that would actually forbid Wyoming electricity utilities from taking advantage of any large-scale renewable energy resources like solar and wind.

The unprecedented bill - which specifies that the only eligible electricity sources in the state would be coal, natural gas, hydroelectricity, nuclear and oil - is perhaps the most blatant attack yet on clean energy in the United States. Even if it does not actually pass in the legislature, the very fact that such a bill exists at all is scary enough.

Wyoming is a Republican red neck state par excellence. It is the largest coal producer in the country and the fourth largest natural gas producer. Nearly 90% of its electricity comes from coal, although, ironically, wind is currently its next largest electricity-producing resource (it's wind potential is considered huge). It produces much more electricity than its small population requires, the rest being exported to surrounding states.

Although Republicans outnumber democrats 51-9 in the state, it is still by no means certain that the bill will succeed. But, hey, welcome to the new "Great" America.