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Transmission & Streaming Disruptions

December 2nd, 2011

Listen to the Whole Show

A listing of today's stories:

Despite lots of proposals, no carbon sequestration plants exist in the U.S.

Lack of EPA support from Wyoming’s Congressional delegation could lead to unintended consequences.

Carbon sequestration research stands on rocky ground.
Proponents of carbon sequestration hope to trap carbon dioxide in underground geologic formations instead of releasing those gases into the atmosphere. Researchers at the University of Wyoming are forging ahead with promising carbon sequestration research at the Rock Springs Uplift in southwestern Wyoming, but as Wyoming Public Radio’s Kathryn Flagg reports, political and economic concerns might derail the pilot project.

Sen. Rothfuss says Wyoming must push forward with carbon sequestration.
Wyoming has spent a lot of time and money doing research on carbon sequestration and clean coal technology. But there’s not much incentive for industry to actually implement those technologies. Co-host Willow Belden spoke with Sen. Chris Rothfuss of Laramie about what that means for Wyoming moving forward. Rothfuss is on the Energy Council and the Senate Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee, and he says the state can’t afford to let its research efforts go to waste.

Gateway West could mean big business for Wyoming.
The Gateway West transmission project is major undertaking by Idaho and Rocky Mountain Power companies that will result in 11 miles of a high voltage transmission line that would run across southern Wyoming and Idaho.  The Bureau of Land Mangement is overseeing the effort, because of much of it will travel across federal land.  Walt George of Wyoming’s B-L-M office is the project manager.  He says this could be a big project for Wyoming.

Legislators want Mead to cut deeper into the budget.
Governor Matt Mead released his proposed state budget for the next two years.  The governor says it includes opportunities for savings and cuts 17 million dollars from the existing budget.  But some in the legislature hope to cut even more in coming weeks.  Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck reports.

Gov. Mead defends budget plan, says Wyoming is well.
A moment ago we heard about efforts to reduce the state budget, now we will get the opinion of governor Matt Mead.  The governor announced 17 million dollars in budget reductions in his first budget Thursday.  But that was far short of what some lawmakers want.  He joins us from his office in Cheyenne.

Midwifes are scarce in Wyoming despite demand
Last year, Wyoming legalized midwives. Until then, you could only deliver babies if you if you were already a nurse or doctor. Now, you can become a certified midwife by going to midwifery school and observing a certain number of births.  Advocates of home birth were delighted by the new legislation. But not much has actually changed. Only three women have gotten certified as midwives since the law changed … and none of them actually live in Wyoming. That’s not because of a lack of interest here. There are simply a mountain of barriers to setting up practice.

Bob Beck retired from Wyoming Public Media after serving as News Director of Wyoming Public Radio for 34 years. During his time as News Director WPR has won over 100 national, regional and state news awards.