Wyoming’s Largest Electric Utility Drops Wind and Solar From Long-Term Plans, Citing Federal Tax Credit Repeal
Why It Matters
Wyoming residents who rely on Rocky Mountain Power for electricity could see significant changes in how their power is generated over the next two decades. A major shift in the utility’s long-range planning signals a potential reversal of the state’s renewable energy buildout — one that has made Wyoming a leading wind energy producer in the Mountain West.
The change also raises questions about the future of Wyoming’s wind energy industry, which has attracted substantial private investment and development activity in recent years. As the state’s energy landscape evolves, communities in southwestern Wyoming are already navigating resource pressures tied to water availability along the Upper Colorado River Basin — adding another layer of uncertainty to the region’s long-term outlook.
What Happened
Rocky Mountain Power’s parent company, PacifiCorp, updated its long-range resource planning document in March 2026, effectively flatlining its previous plans for new wind and solar development across its six-state service territory. The company now has no plans to add new wind or solar facilities in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, or California from 2027 through 2045.
PacifiCorp cited the July 4, 2025, repeal of major portions of the Inflation Reduction Act as the primary driver of the change. That repeal, enacted through the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” phased out or eliminated key federal tax benefits for wind and solar energy generation. Rocky Mountain Power is Wyoming’s largest electric utility and is part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway energy conglomerate.
By the Numbers
- PacifiCorp is responsible for approximately 35% of Wyoming’s 3,700 megawatts of installed wind-generated electrical capacity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- Federal tax credits had previously reduced the cost of wind and solar projects by roughly 30%, according to the company.
- Rocky Mountain Power customers in Wyoming have faced approximately a 20% increase in electric rates since 2020.
- Former Rocky Mountain Power President and CEO Gary Hoogeveen testified in 2023 that without the company’s renewable investments, net power costs in Wyoming would have risen an additional $85.4 million, or 65%.
- PacifiCorp’s near-term preferred portfolio still includes about 1,200 megawatts of new solar in Utah, more than 400 megawatts of new wind in Idaho, and 26 megawatts of new wind in Wyoming — projects already in the pipeline.
Zoom Out
The shift at PacifiCorp reflects a broader realignment of the American energy market following the rollback of Biden-era clean energy subsidies. With federal tax credits for wind and solar being phased out, and the Trump administration reducing regulatory burdens on fossil fuel production, conventional energy sources like coal are becoming more cost-competitive.
PacifiCorp acknowledged in its planning update that Trump administration rollbacks for fossil fuel regulations “may make coal a more competitive fuel source.” The company has already delayed some coal plant retirements in Wyoming in recent years, and its updated planning document projects that greenhouse gas emissions — which had been on a downward trajectory — will now trend upward.
For Wyoming, which has long been a top wind energy-producing state, the retreat of a major utility buyer from the renewable market creates immediate uncertainty for developers. Historically, large utilities like PacifiCorp have driven much of the state’s wind development by issuing requests for proposals and agreeing to purchase power from independent developers — or even acquiring wind facilities after construction. With PacifiCorp stepping back, that pipeline of demand could dry up.
Some industry watchers suggest Wyoming electric cooperatives or data center operators seeking large quantities of power could partially fill the void. The Wyoming Legislature’s recent focus on economic development and resource management may also factor into how state officials respond to the shifting energy picture.
What’s Next
As a regulated utility, PacifiCorp is required to file a new integrated resource plan every two years and is not legally obligated to adhere to its current planning document. That means the outlook could shift again depending on future federal policy, electricity demand, or market conditions.
For now, projects already approved and in development — including the remaining wind capacity planned for Wyoming and Idaho — are expected to move forward. Federal tax credit eligibility for new projects may hinge on whether construction begins within roughly the next year, before the phase-out schedule takes full effect.
Utility regulators, state officials, and the wind energy industry will be watching closely as PacifiCorp files its next required resource plan and navigates what appears to be a significant turning point for renewable energy development across the Mountain West.
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