WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY (WEA)
According to their website they have an 8 member staff and 12 member board. Rob Creager is the Executive Director.
Their “About Us” page no longer explains what they do.
https://wyoenergy.org/
WEA IS A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Established in 2020, the WEA appears to be very similar to the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) in that it is behaves and is treated like a corporation yet is legislatively handled as an executive agency that receives a significant amount of funds from the State of Wyoming.
The WEA was legislatively created by the Minerals Committee in 2019 to side-step constitutional duties and restrictions that an official government entity would be held accountable for by their constituents:
Wyoming Joint Minerals Committee, May 16-17, 2019, Meeting Material # 2-01
https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2019/09-201905162-03WEA-AuthoritySummary.pdf
With the new Wyoming nuclear energy agenda in it’s upward trajection in 2025, funding for the WBC appears that it might be potentially trending downward simultaneously. (WBC’s requested 2026 budget of around $111 million was surprisingly rejected by the Governor’s recommendation and reduced to around half.)
WEA NUCLEAR ACTIVITY TIMELINE:
| Oct 10, 2025 WEA recommends to the Governor Large Project Energy Matching Funds grant for:BWX Technologies, Inc., TRISO Fuel Fabrication Facility in Wyoming, $100,000,000. |
| Oct 8, 2025
WEA Energy Matching Funds recommendation: |
| Sep 1, 2023 WEA signs contract with BWXT. |
| Aug 2023 BWXT – WEA Governor’s Energy Matching Fund Grant Agreement $9,999,802 |
| Aug 31, 2023 Nuclear Energy – Industrial Development Strategic Framework and Roadmap – Ver 1.6 |
| Dec 20, 2021 Wyoming State Energy Program transfers to Wyoming Energy Authority In an effort to streamline resources and enhance efficiencies, the State Energy Program has transferred from the Wyoming Business Council to the newly launched Wyoming Energy Authority. The organizations have been working on the transition for the previous year to ensure a smooth process with no disruption to the current grantees.“We are excited to manage the State Energy Program as we continue to create a “one stop shop” for energy in Wyoming,” said Dr. Glen Murrell, Wyoming Energy Authority Executive Director. “Providing resources to small businesses, local governments, and schools to help reduce their operating expenses during these uncertain times is of the utmost importance. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Business Council staff to help through this transition.” “The State Energy Program has enjoyed stand-alone success in helping public and private entities reduce energy costs and improve efficiencies,” Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell said. “This next logical step of combining those efforts with the newly created Wyoming Energy Authority will provide future applicants greater access to expertise directly focused on energy.” (https://wyomingbusiness.org/news/wyoming-state-energy-program-transfers-to-wyoming-energy-authority/) |
WEA LEGISLATION:
| 2019 SEA14 – SF0037 Wyoming energy authority (creation of) |
| 2020 HEA23 – HB0003 Wyoming energy authority-amendments. |
| 2025 SEA43 – SF0138 Energy impact on Wyoming economy-study. |
FINANCING OF WEA
WEA Funding from WY Legislature and other specified sources:
| 2020 Budget Session SF0001-SEA0040 General government appropriations. Pg 9, Sect. 009 $1,150,000.00; Pg 16, Sec. 032 $1,150,000.00; Pg 66, (n) $5,000,000.00; Pg 85, (c) $4,000,000.00 |
| 2020 HB0003-HEA0023 Wyoming energy authority-amendments. $50,000.00 |
| 2021 (Non budget session) HB0001 – HEA0045 General government appropriations-2. Pg 70, Sec. 339 $10,000,000.00 |
| 2022 Budget Session SF0001 – SEA0001 General government appropriations. Pg 43, Sec. 90 $3,133,522.00; Pg 91, Sec. 319 A portion of $37,690,462.00; A portion of $16,271,450.00 |
| Sep 15, 2022 U.S. Economic Development Administration. grant $595,000.00 |
| 2023 (Non budget session) HB0001 – HEA0037 General government appropriations. Pg 48, Sec. 090 $4,143,522.00; Pg 66, Sec. 329 A portion of $48,850,000.00; Pg 66, Sec. 329 A portion of $28,408,290.00 |
| 2024 Budget Session HB0001 – HEA0050 General government appropriations. Pg 39, Sec. 090 $5,222,178.00; Pg 83, Sec. 317 $9,400,000.00; Pg 88-89, Sec. 323 $100,000,000.00; Pg 92-92, Sec. 329 A portion of $9,159,375.00 |
| 2025 No supplemental budget bill |
Since 2022, the Wyoming State Legislature has appropriated $155 million in funds to the Office of the Governor to leverage Wyoming-based energy projects receiving federal or private funding. The Governor delegated the management of the Energy Matching Funds (EMF) to the Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA). (https://wyoenergy.org/two-projects-awarded-with-energy-matching-funds/)
Federal Grants Received by WEA
| Period of Performance Start | Prime Award ID | Recipient Name | Obligations | Outlays | |
| 3/24/2021 | GLSX0002505051 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $15,591.00 | $15,891.00 | |
| 7/1/2022 | DEEE0010053 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $1,303,810.00 | $539,078.04 | |
| 9/2/2022 | 57906208 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $595,000.00 | $569,191.49 | |
| 8/28/2023 | DEGD0000051 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $12,520,974.00 | $0.00 | |
| 9/1/2023 | DEEE0010110 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $3,507,280.00 | $1,243,069.78 | |
| 2/1/2024 | DESE0000268 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $1,617,080.00 | $0.00 | |
| 12/1/2024 | DESE0000812 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $1,192,070.00 | $0.00 | |
| 1/1/2025 | DESE0000130 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $34,484,390.00 | $0.00 | |
| 1/1/2025 | DESE0000074 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $34,616,394.00 | $0.00 | |
| 1/1/2025 | DEEE0010377 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $4,685,910.00 | $0.00 | |
| 7/1/2025 | DESE0001901 | WYOMING ENERGY AUTHORITY | $477,940.00 | — | |
| Oct 2025 Total | $96,184,309.00 | 3,121,231.18 |
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