Wyoming News Briefs

Utility requests rate increase to offset fire costs, new power lines

CASPER (WNE) — Rocky Mountain Power, Wyoming’s largest public utility, filed a request to increase customer rates in order to underwrite new infrastructure and cover the rising costs of insurance premiums relating to wildfire risk.

The company is seeking to levy an additional $123.5 million, or an overall increase of 14.7%, resulting in an extra $17.17 per month for the typical residential customer.

Around half of the increase is requested to pay Wyoming’s share of new infrastructure projects, including Gateway South and Gateway West transmission lines, and the Rock Creek wind project, which go into service this year.

The other half of the rate increase proposal is driven by wildfire liability.

“Increasing costs for commercial excess liability insurance are far beyond anything the company has experienced before. Excess liability insurance costs were up 270% in one year, and the 2023-24 policy year represents a 1888% increase over the last five years,” the company said in a statement.

Americans for Prosperity-Wyoming briefly lowers gas prices to highlight Bidenomics inflation

ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — Calling out President Joe Biden’s economic failures, Americans for Prosperity- Wyoming (AFP-WY) for two hours lowered gas prices at a local station as an object lesson about the administration’s policies and continuing inflated prices at the gas pump and beyond.

Vehicles were lined up Monday, July 29, at Kelly’s Sunset Convenience store while the lowered gas price for regular unleaded lasted, from 4-6 p.m.

AFP-WY dropped the price of gas to $2.38 — the price of gas when Joe Biden took office in 2021 — to offer some relief from Biden’s “bad energy policy,” according to the press release sent out prior to the event.

AFP-WY State Director Tyler Lindholm was on hand guiding drivers to the pump.

He said the purpose of Monday’s gas lowering is to offer some relief at the pump as well as demonstrate how Biden’s policies are negatively affecting every-day Americans’ wallets.

“Bidenomics has resulted in American households spending $11,400 more each year to maintain their lifestyle,” Lindholm said. “We see pain at the pump. Bread, eggs, groceries — we’ve seen costs soar. We’re here to talk about those failed policies.”

Lindholm noted this gas campaign has been “very successful,” and he hoped many people were able to get the discount. He also thanked the volunteers who came out to help direct and speak with people.

“I’ve been jazzed about this. It’s been a load of fun,” he said.

Americans for Prosperity is a libertarian conservative political advocacy group.

Wyoming Kum & Go locations to rebrand as Maverik

CHEYENNE (WNE) — In April 2023, Maverik announced the acquisition of Kum & Go as part of a $2 billion deal. Four months later, it announced it would begin rebranding Kum & Go locations in four states, including Wyoming, in 2024.

In January this year, the Utah-based brand announced it would retire the Kum & Go brand by the end of 2025.

According to Maverik’s website, the Cheyenne Kum & Go locations will close at 6 p.m. on Aug. 25 and 26 at the Ridge Road and East Lincolnway locations, respectively. They will both reopen with the new brand Sept. 3.

The rebranding for each location will include replacing all Kum & Go signs with Maverik signs.

In addition to these locations, three in Rock Springs and one in Gillette are set to rebrand by the end of September.

Three additional locations, one each in Buffalo, Gillette and Saratoga, have yet to announce a rebranding but will likely be converted to Maverik locations by the end of the year.

The first Kum & Go to be rebranded as Maverik was in January in Draper, Utah. Since then, all Utah locations have been rebranded as well as most Colorado locations. According to Maverik’s website, there are currently no plans to rebrand locations outside of Colorado and Wyoming.

Voted No. 1 Best Gas Station for Food by USA Today readers in 2023, Maverik will feature its BonFire food in rebranded stores as well as staples from Kum & Go’s menu, according to a Maverik press release.

Evacuations lifted for 3 Wyoming towns near wildfire

CASPER (WNE) — Evacuation orders were lifted Thursday as crews continued to battle a wide-ranging wildfire near Guernsey.

Residents are being allowed to return to Hartville, Pleasant Valley and Whalen Canyon, according to Platte County Emergency Management and the Platte County Fire Warden.

Tyson Finnicum, a BLM public information officer assigned to the fire, said the fire is currently traveling north toward the Haystack range.

Previous reports indicated the fire was around 28,000 acres in size, but Finnicum said an infrared flight gave officials a more accurate number that’s just over 23,000 acres.

While all closed roads were also reopened, officials asked that traffic on Whalen Canyon Road be kept to area residents as fire fighters were continuing operations in the area.

As of Thursday afternoon, the fire is still 0% contained, Finnicum said.

Crews from the 220th Military Police Company from the Colorado National Guard, Wyoming National Guard, Bureau of Land Management Fire, State Forestry Fire and the fire departments from Goshen, Platte, Albany, and Laramie Counties are working together to battle the blaze.

Hartville’s post office closed Wednesday due to the growing Pleasant Valley Fire as a nearby Wyoming National Guard camp opened to evacuees.

Evacuees seeking shelter from the fire should go to Camp Guernsey’s front gate to start the process to receive help, according to a state press release. Camp Guernsey is also hosting the American Red Cross to further aid in relief efforts.

The Pleasant Valley Fire was caused by a lightning strike on July 30 north of the Camp Guernsey training area, according to the National Guard. The fire was almost out when the heat index and wind sparked the fire back up.

Gordon opposes deadline extension to delist Wyoming grizzly bear

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Gov. Mark Gordon said Thursday the federal government’s continued inability to meet deadlines set by Wyoming’s grizzly bear delisting petition is unacceptable.

On behalf of the governor, the state of Wyoming has filed a response to the Department of Interior’s notice that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is unable to meet the legally required deadline for Wyoming’s petition to delist the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The state’s response, filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, pushes back against the claim’s justification and proposed new deadline. Wyoming is demanding the USFW respond on or before Oct. 31.

The state of Wyoming remains committed to implementing a sustainable conservation strategy for the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which continues to thrive since the species was listed under the ESA in 1975, the governor’s office said in a news release.