On Monday, Gov. Matt Mead signed legislation that would allow the state to finance the construction of coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere.  

Last August, Oregon rejected a proposed coal export terminal that would have shipped coal from Wyoming and Montana to Asia. But on Friday, Wyoming’s state legislature passed a bill that would allow the state to issue up to one billion dollars in bonds to help fund out of state projects like coal export terminals. Lloyd Drain, director of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority says these projects would be good for more than just Wyoming coal.

“If I’m looking at it with my Washington state or Oregon state hat on, I think there’s a lot more benefits to be had than any risk," Drain said.

The Wyoming Infrastructure Authority plans to send a delegation to Pacific Northwest later this spring to lobby Native American tribes for support.