Thread by @IAmNickReynolds

Gov. Mark Gordon speaking in Jackson this morning.

Live stream here:

jhcenterforthearts.org/calendar/event…

Local reporters in attendance:

@WillWalkey
@sightsonwheels

They'll have highlights too.

Big things I've heard so far:

1) Masks are important, wear them.
2) Wyoming's special places are changing, need to find ways for tourism to benefit the whole state.
3) Workforce development, ensuring Wyoming has the strongest education system in the country.

Gordon discussed charting a long-term vision for K-12 education, and the working group he developed to evaluate what students need. (The result of a collapse in discussions in ed funding.) wyofile.com/wyo-emerges-fr…

Also talked about the need for a diversity in education aligned with the needs of industry -- not just getting welders, but specialized welders, for example.

Also touched on the need for flexible post-secondary options, particularly in helping former energy workers transition.

Now touching on energy and the challenges of living in a fossil-fuel reliant economy.

Notes that while coal and oil prices are up, says private equity has "drank the Kool-Aid."

"Fossil fuels are become a pariah, and we are seeing enormous pressure on coal," he said.

"You look internationally and you see coal usage is going up. But at the same time that we're trying to retire coal from domestic use while it's going up elsewhere in the world."

Said it's unrealistic to cut fossil fuel use to fix climate change.

On renewables, said the viewsheds of Central Wyoming have been "industrialized" with windfarms.

"It is not the sort of thing that I think people envision when they see the nice posters of windows on three or four of them on a hillside," he said. "These are miles and miles."

Pushes back on detractors of carbon capture technology's potential. (Gordon has sought to make CCUS a centerpiece of his administration.)

"To say we can't do these things really limits our ability to move forward," he said. "And Wyoming is really about opportunity."

He's also talking on moving carbon sequestration efforts -- like carbon credits -- through the current DOE in a way ranchers and other landowners can benefit from what those credits offer.

Gordon himself sold $80k worth of credits in 2008 or so, he said.

"Where is Wyoming going?" he seems to close. "My sense is Wyoming has got some struggles ahead of it. But I think Wyoming has the people and the raw resources to make a difference in technology, in agriculture, in energy supply, in tourism, in...what our world is."

"We have lived our lives by the assumption that what is good for us, is good for the world," he adds. "We've been wrong."

"We can change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make every effort to know the world, and to learn what is good for good.

Now in the Q&A. First question is about the CO River Compact, and the lack of water downstream.

Wyoming, which doesn't use its full allocation in the compact, is defending it. wyofile.com/wyo-looks-to-s… Gordon said if we're getting rid of coal, we need a reliable hydro source.

"We have seen several years in a row of diminished runoff," he said. "We've also seen much drier conditions throughout the West, which means if we do get big snowpack, more of that is going to infiltrate than runoff. So this is going to be a long way back."

Asked about work with the tribes. Said he's had good dialogues and that progress has been made on economic development and in ensuring stable funding for services.

Concerned w/ illegal dumping on reservation and taxes. (There are differences in state tax and rez tax.)

On masks: Said that while not foolproof, masking was successful. (Has said previously he won't revive his mandate.)

"If we're going to eradicate and eliminate this COVID virus, it is going to take the effort and cooperation of the community to do that."

On taxes: says we can't implement an income tax without a change to the constitution. (WY has amended its constitution fewer than a dozen times ever -- among the fewest times in the country.)

Said we should look at increasing a wind tax given the subsidies they receive.

"When you talk about subsidies to promote renewable energy, none of that benefits Wyoming," he said. "It is a straight subsidy to the company building [that project.]

I mean there are jobs and associated sales tax revenues but those are temporary in many cases.

Asked about Afghan refugees: Notes Wyoming doesn't have a resettlement program, the only state in the nation that doesn't.

Said Wyo has sent troops to help process refugees coming in. If resettled, want to talk with feds to make sure those incoming are vetted "properly."

[Brad is also there! I'm sorry Brad!]

https://twitter.com/bradlyjboner/status/1432745663041662978

This was an interesting question.

https://twitter.com/WillWalkey/status/1432745792754929664

Gordon notes that Teton County has been targeted quite a bit by the state -- and particularly the SLIB -- in land-use decisions. jhnewsandguide.com/news/environme…

Said if they'll take that effort in Teton, they should take it elsewhere.

Gordon with takes on forest fire management and particularly, the approach of the Biden admin.

Good detail here, but said what we've seen is a result of both climate change and poor management, and that we're a large enough species that we need a comprehensive mgmt approach.

Said we need to take a look at the "life cycle" costs of renewable energy. [And I'm checking "windmill blades in landfills" off my Wyoming political bingo board.]

Said the world hasn't changed its consumption habits and if America alone changes course, it still won't be enough.

We got a #Crypto question!

Gordon: "You're seeing lots of government coin, but you also see Bitcoin and you see some of the others that are more libertarian in their approach, and Wyoming can be part of that system, as well."

Said that Blackrock analysts have said the future is in automation, and that blockchain can be critical to that future.

Though he acknowledges our workforce is small, he wants a share of that industry to be in Wyoming.

And a question about #legalweed.

"I struggle a little bit with the notion that recreational marijuana is a good thing for Wyoming," he said.

It could be coming. From me: wyofile.com/will-wyoming-v…

"But if you go around the state, you hear a lot of talk about how important medical marijuana is," he added.
"And so I think that that issue is truly something the people of Wyoming have to speak up about. And it's something that the legislature will have to deal with."

Asked about election integrity and changes to Wyoming's primary elections: "It's the first time in my life Wyoming's voter law has been called into question," he said.

Doesn't weigh in on the changes to the primary system, but says local elections are far more important than natl.

"The biggest issue for elections in my mind is the fact people show up to vote for the top of the ticket and don't walk all the way down through the ticket."