Barrasso Congratulates Governor Mead on Dedication of New Carbon Capture Research Facility in Wyoming

Press Release – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), sent a letter to congratulate Wyoming Governor Matt Mead on the dedication of the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) near Gillette, Wyoming.

In the letter, Barrasso congratulated Mead on the center’s dedication and how Wyoming has become a global leader of energy technology, development, and innovation. He also thanked Jason Begger, the executive director of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (WIA), and the entire WIA for its work on this project.

Read the letter here and below.

Dear Governor Mead:

Congratulations on the dedication of the Wyoming Integrated Test Center. This facility is certainly the future of energy technology.

Today’s dedication demonstrates Wyoming’s leadership—not just in the United States but internationally—in supporting innovative carbon capture and utilization technologies. These technologies will allow researchers to create new markets and bring new economic prosperity by transforming carbon dioxide into useful products.

The ITC is an important resource for Wyoming’s economy. It provides a valuable forum for innovators to experiment and test technologies that will turn carbon dioxide into marketable products. By utilizing flue gas from the Dry Fork Station, researchers are able to test new technologies in realistic conditions.

Thank you to Jason Begger and the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority for their leadership and steadfast vision to bring this project to completion. The ITC demonstrates how Wyoming has distinguished itself as an energy and technology leader.

Bobbi joins me in sending our congratulations and best wishes.

With Warm Regards,

John Barrasso, M.D.

United States Senator 

Background Information:

On March 22, 2018, Barrasso introduced the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act. The USE IT Act would support carbon utilization and direct air capture research. The bill would also support federal, state, and non-governmental collaboration in the construction and development of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) facilities and carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines.

On April 11, 2018, the EPW Committee held a legislative hearing on the USE IT Act. At the hearing, Mark Northam, executive director at the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources, testified that the USE IT Act will help promote CCUS technologies.

On September 13, 2017, Matt Fry, policy advisor to Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, testified at an EPW Committee hearing on “Expanding and Accelerating the Deployment and Use of CCUS.” Fry told the committee about Wyoming’s efforts to facilitate development of a CO2 pipeline network.

On July 25, 2017, Jason Begger, executive director of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority testified at an EPW Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee hearing on “Developing and Deploying Advanced Clean Energy Technologies.” Begger detailed how Wyoming is an emerging leader in CCUS development and how public-private partnerships help incentivize the development of carbon capture technologies.