37-5-502. Wyoming energy authority. (Note: this is effective as of 7/1/2020.)

(a) Commencing July 1, 2020, there is created the Wyoming energy authority, which is a body politic and corporate operating as an instrumentality of the state of Wyoming, with authority to adopt an official seal and to sue and be sued.

(b) The authority shall be governed by a board composed of seven (7) voting members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate. Except as provided in this subsection, all voting members shall be appointed for four (4) year terms. The governor shall appoint four (4) initial voting board members to a term of four (4) years and shall appoint the remaining three (3) initial voting board members to a term of two (2) years. The governor may remove any member as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101. The members shall elect from the membership a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. A majority of the persons appointed and serving as members shall be qualified voters of the state of Wyoming. Members shall have special knowledge, education or experience in the field of energy or natural resource development, transmission, generation, transportation, financing or marketing, or a field related to industrial or municipal energy consumption. Members of the board may receive the same per diem, expenses and travel allowance as members of the legislature under W.S. 28-5-101 while in attendance at meetings of the board and while performing their duties as members of the board.

(c) The following persons shall serve as ex officio members of the board:

(i) A member of the Wyoming enhanced oil recovery commission selected by the commission;

(ii) The chairman of the Wyoming business council or a designee;

(iii) The governor or a designee from his office;

(iv) The chairman of the Wyoming oil and gas conservation commission or a designee;

(v) The director of the University of Wyoming school of energy resources or, if there is no director, a member of the school of energy resources selected by the University of Wyoming energy resources council, or a designee.

(d) The board shall meet not less than two (2) times each year with representatives of the University of Wyoming school of energy resources and the enhanced oil recovery institute to conduct its business and to consider energy related issues and the state of the energy industry in Wyoming.

(e) Any agency, board, commission, department or institution of the state and the governing authorities of political subdivisions may make surveys, reports and investigations, and may furnish records and information and other assistance and advice as the authority may require.

(f) Appointments and terms under this section shall be as provided in W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103.

(g) The authority is subject to the requirements of:

(i) W.S. 16-3-101 through 16-3-105;

(ii) W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205;

(iii) W.S. 16-4-401 through 16-4-408.