CHEYENNE, WYOMING, January 30, 2026 — The Energy Matching Funds (EMF) review committee met on Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23, to review proposals applying for state funding as cost share. The committee recommended that three proposals move forward to Governor Gordon for review. A 10-day public comment period opens today and closes on Monday, February 9, 2026.
The Energy Matching Funds are administered by the Wyoming Energy Authority on behalf of Governor Gordon, who will review the projects and any public comment before making a final decision on the awards.
Summaries of the projects listed below are available on the Wyoming Energy Authority website. Public comments can be sent to wea@wyo.gov.
The three projects recommended are:
- Carbon Geo Capture, “Innovative Dispatchable Power from Wyoming’s Coal and Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants.” Award Recommendation: $4,950,000
- Peabody Energy, “Wyoming Rare Earths Project.” Award Recommendation: $6,250,000
- University of Wyoming, School of Energy Resources, “Development of the Mowry Total Petroleum System.” Award Recommendation: $480,400
The EMF project review process includes an initial concept paper, followed by an invitation to submit a formal proposal. The project proposal then goes to the EMF Review Committee – composed of the Executive Director of the WEA, a designee from the Governor’s Office, the Director of the Department of Workforce Services, the Wyoming State Geologist, and the CEO of the Wyoming Business Council. If projects are recommended for approval, a 10-day public comment period opens. All comments are reviewed and considered in the final decision to award EMF. The project proposal goes to the Attorney General’s office and then the Governor for final approval. This public process ensures that each awarded project has been thoroughly considered by multiple parties, including an invitation to the public to weigh in on projects.
The Wyoming State Legislature appropriated the Energy Matching Funds to the Office of the Governor in 2022 to leverage energy projects receiving federal or private funding and interested in siting in Wyoming. The Energy Matching Funds continuously accepts concept papers but follows a periodic review process. For more information and to learn more about these three projects, please visit https://wyoenergy.org/energy-matching-funds.
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About Wyoming Energy Authority
The Wyoming Energy Authority advocates for, facilitates and advances Wyoming’s energy economy to grow a secure and prosperous future for Wyoming’s energy and natural resources. Focusing on a “more is more” energy mix, the WEA’s strategy includes championing products from our legacy fossil industries, along with renewable energy and emerging opportunities in advanced nuclear, uranium and rare earth elements. The WEA was created in 2020 by the Wyoming State Legislature by merging the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, and the State Energy Office.
