Wyo. Lawmakers Consider Grants For Energy Towns

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming lawmakers are considering creating a way to offer grants to areas affected by energy development.

The proposal, House Bill 212, has already passed the House and a Senate committee unanimously backed it on Monday. It now heads to the full Senate for debate.

Democratic Rep. Mary Throne of Cheyenne told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that the money could be used for things such as repairing roads, hiring more law enforcement officers or paying for other community services.

However, lawmakers have not agreed to fund the grants yet. The bill would only set up the framework for how communities would apply for the money.

The bill is modeled after a grant program lawmakers created in 2011 to help pay for roads in communities impacted by the Niobrara oil play.