Climate Science and Policy

While Wyoming is known for fossil fuel extraction, the state has the capacity to generate 1,653,856 GWh of wind per year. With the growing rate of greenhouse gas emissions and the cyclical Boom-Bust that the state faces, there is an opportunity for private sector investment and a state and federal government that can utilize the overgeneration capacity of wind in Wyoming for Bitcoin mining operations and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage. Currently, projects are under development, but the issue of overgenerated wind continues to exist. By harnessing the overgenerated wind for Bitcoin mining, Wyoming has the opportunity to redistribute the global hashrate, incentivize Bitcoin miners to move their operations to Wyoming, and stimulate job growth as a result. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage could help propel Bitcoin mining operations as well as harness carbon to manufacture products across various industries. By assessing workforce characteristics and proposed federal policies, this research addresses the need for the implementation of the Endless Frontier Act with the inclusion of wind turbine and CCS development, workforce protection, and cryptocurrency incentives.