Wyoming Solar Market 2025: Growth Potential, Policies & Challenges

Wyoming Solar Market 2025: Growth Potential, Policies & Challenges

Wyoming Solar Market 2025: Growth Potential, Policies & Challenges

Wyoming’s solar energy landscape is at a turning point in 2025. Long one of the nation’s most fossil-fuel-reliant states, Wyoming has historically lagged far behind in solar power adoption. However, new projects and policies are poised to accelerate solar growth in the Cowboy State. This blog post dives into Wyoming’s current solar capacity, the challenges posed by its coal-centric legacy, and the opportunities emerging from federal incentives like the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Department of the Interior’s Western Solar Plan. We’ll also highlight projections for solar expansion (nearly 785 MW of new capacity in the next five years) and what it all means for local homeowners and businesses seeking Wyoming solar roofing solutions.

Wyoming’s Solar Market in 2025: By the Numbers

Solar panels at the 150 MW South Cheyenne Solar farm, one of Wyoming’s two operating utility-scale solar projectspv-magazine-usa.com.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Wyoming currently has around 334 MW of solar capacity installed, which places it roughly 45th out of 50 states for total solar deployment. This is an extremely low ranking – for context, Wyoming was dead last as recently as 2023 with only about 124 MW installedpv-magazine-usa.com. The recent jump to ~334 MW is largely thanks to one major project coming online, yet Wyoming remains near the bottom nationally in solar energy.

Only two utility-scale solar projects are operating in the entire state as of 2025. Wyoming’s first utility solar farm, the Sweetwater Solar project (~98 MW in southwest Wyoming), came online in 2019, and for years it stood alone. In 2024, the South Cheyenne Solar facility (150 MW in Laramie County) began operation, becoming the state’s largest solar installationpv-magazine-usa.compv-magazine-usa.com. These two sites represent the bulk of Wyoming’s installed solar capacity today. By comparison, many states have dozens of large solar farms; Wyoming’s limited number underscores how nascent the solar market here still is.

Wyoming Solar Projects Online (2025):

• Sweetwater Solar – ~98 MW (operational since 2019 near Green River)pv-magazine-usa.com

• South Cheyenne Solar – 150 MW (operational since 2024 in Laramie County)pv-magazine-usa.com

Beyond these, most of the remaining capacity comes from small distributed solar (rooftop and community installations) spread across the state. In total, it’s enough solar to power only around 50–60 thousand homes in a state of 580 thousand peopleseia.org – a tiny fraction of Wyoming’s energy mix. Clearly, Wyoming’s solar market is just getting started, with enormous room to grow.

Coal Country Challenges: Why Solar Lagged in Wyoming

Wyoming’s Sweetwater Solar farm (98 MW) – one of only two utility-scale projects in the state – seen through a fence. The state’s strong solar resources are still largely untapped due to its coal-dominated energy policiesehn.org.

Wyoming’s slow adoption of solar power cannot be understood without examining its historical reliance on coal and fossil fuels. Wyoming is the nation’s leading coal-producing state, and coal mining and power generation have long been pillars of its economycanarymedia.com. This dominance of coal has translated into political and economic structures that discourage the shift to solar. State and local policies have been heavily influenced by the fossil fuel industry, creating barriers to renewable energy developmentehn.org. In short, Wyoming has ideal conditions for solar (high sunshine and open land) but has hesitated to embrace it due to ties to coalehn.org.

Several factors illustrate this hesitancy and the challenges solar faces in Wyoming:

• Political Resistance and Policy Barriers: Wyoming’s economy and governance are closely intertwined with fossil fuels, leading to policies unfavorable to solar. For example, net metering – which lets homeowners with solar panels get credit for excess power sent to the grid – exists in Wyoming, but there have been repeated attempts to roll it back. In early 2025, a Wyoming state senator introduced legislation to limit net metering for rooftop solar, a move that could stifle small-scale installationspv-magazine-usa.com. Although the proposal sparked debate, it highlights the persistent pushback against distributed solar in the state.

• Lack of State Incentives: Unlike many states, Wyoming offers virtually no state-level financial incentives for solar adoption. There are no state tax credits, rebates, or statewide solar rebate programs to help homeowners or businesses offset installation costs. In fact, as one clean energy analysis notes, Wyoming “offers little in the way of state-based incentives” for solar customersecowatch.com. This puts the onus on federal incentives (discussed later) to make projects pencil out. The absence of local incentives is a reflection of policymakers’ lukewarm support for renewables.

• Cultural and Economic Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil, and gas are deeply embedded in Wyoming’s identity and workforce. Many communities depend on mining and drilling for jobs and tax revenue. This can breed skepticism toward solar power, which is sometimes seen as a threat to the status quo. The influence of fossil fuel interests has at times fostered opposition to renewables investment. Even as neighboring states rapidly expand renewable energy, Wyoming’s development has been “much reduced here” compared to the large-scale clean energy growth next door, as one local solar company founder observedehn.org. In other words, the political will and public pressure that propelled solar in other states have been weaker in Wyoming, slowing progress.

The net result of these factors is that solar development in Wyoming has been fenced in by a coal-first mindset. It’s telling that Wyoming did not get its first utility-scale solar farm until 2019, and as of 2024 it ranked a lowly 46th nationally for installed solar capacitycleantechnica.com. This is despite the state’s abundant sunshine and open prairies that are well-suited for solar panels. Clearly, the challenge hasn’t been the resource itself – it’s been the social, political, and economic environment surrounding energy. As Environmental Health News succinctly put it, Wyoming has plenty of sun, “yet its development lags behind due to political and economic ties to fossil fuels.”ehn.org

However, this challenging landscape is beginning to shift as market forces and outside policies create new opportunities for solar.

Untapped Potential and New Solar Projects on the Horizon

Despite the headwinds, Wyoming’s solar sector is now poised for significant growth. Ironically, the very fact that Wyoming has lagged means its untapped potential is extremely high. The state enjoys better-than-average solar irradiance for its latitudewyoenergy.org – high plains elevation and clear skies give it a solar resource comparable to or greater than many places that have far more solar installed. This strong sun potential, combined with declining solar technology costs, makes Wyoming an attractive frontier for solar developers once policy barriers are lowered. And indeed, a number of large-scale projects are now in the pipeline that could dramatically boost Wyoming’s solar capacity in the next few yearsehn.org.

SEIA projects that Wyoming will add roughly 785 MW of new solar capacity over the next five years. This forecasted addition (on the order of 700–800 MW) would more than double the state’s current installed capacity – a remarkable jump for a market that only recently crossed the 300 MW mark. In fact, as of late 2023 SEIA had expected Wyoming to install about 685 MW over five yearspv-magazine-usa.com, but new developments have already exceeded those earlier expectations. To put it in perspective, an increase of ~785 MW is almost a 3x expansion of Wyoming’s total solar capacity. If these projects materialize, Wyoming could climb out of the bottom ranking and begin to catch up with other states in the region.

What are these projects driving Wyoming’s solar growth? There are several utility-scale solar farms in advanced development or early construction, including at least four major projects that insiders say will significantly boost the state’s solar profileehn.org. Two of the most notable examples are:

• The “Cowboy Solar” Project – 771 MW: By far the biggest project in Wyoming’s queue, Cowboy Solar is a planned $1.2 billion mega-farm to be built by Enbridge in Laramie County (southeastern Wyoming). Slated to start construction in 2025, it will feature 771 MW of solar capacity plus 269 MW of battery storage and around 1.2 million solar panelscasperroofs.comcanarymedia.com. Once fully operational in 2027, Cowboy Solar will single-handedly dwarf all of Wyoming’s current solar capacity – effectively tripling the state’s total by itselfpv-magazine-usa.com. In fact, this one project will rank among the largest solar farms in the entire U.S. At 771 MW, it could power over 770,000 homes – more than three times the number of households in Wyomingpv-magazine-usa.com. Cowboy Solar is truly a game-changer, signaling that even coal-centric Wyoming is now attracting massive clean energy investments.

• BrightNight “Dutchman” Solar Farm – 499 MW: Another substantial development is BrightNight Energy’s 499 MW Dutchman project in Converse County (east-central Wyoming). Announced in 2023, Dutchman will be built on a sheep ranch and notably plans to incorporate agrivoltaics – co-using the land for both solar power generation and sheep grazingcleantechnica.com. This kind of innovative dual-use approach helps ease land-use concerns and shows how renewables can integrate with Wyoming’s agricultural heritage. The Dutchman solar farm is working through permitting, but its Florida-based developer has been actively courting landowners in Wyoming for more solar opportunitiescleantechnica.com. At ~500 MW, Dutchman represents another huge leap in scale for Wyoming solar, nearly matching the state’s entire current capacity.

In addition to these, other projects are on the drawing board. For instance, utility Southern Power (which built the Cheyenne solar farm) and other developers have expressed interest in new sites across Wyoming. All told, several gigawatts of solar capacity could potentially come online in Wyoming by the late 2020s if even a portion of these proposals proceed. This marks a dramatic shift from the past decade, when such projects were virtually nonexistent here.

Crucially, the surge in projects is being encouraged by improving economics and external policy support. Solar and battery costs have fallen so much that even in a state with cheap coal power, new solar can be competitive – especially with big corporate buyers and utilities seeking clean energy. As one renewable energy expert noted, the “overwhelmingly strong economics of solar and storage” are driving a “land rush” for projects in Wyoming despite its fossil fuel primacycanarymedia.com. Surrounding states like Colorado, Utah, and Idaho have already harnessed a lot of solar, so developers are now looking at Wyoming’s wide-open spaces as the next frontier.

It’s worth noting that Wyoming’s ample wind resources have also begun to see development, accounting for about 22% of the state’s electricity generation in recent yearscanarymedia.com. That success in wind shows that renewables can gain traction, and solar is now following a similar path. If all these slated solar projects come to fruition, Wyoming will finally start to tap into its huge solar potential. In turn, that could bring significant benefits – from construction jobs and lease revenue for landowners, to a more diversified energy economy.

However, converting potential into reality often requires the right policy environment. Fortunately, Wyoming’s solar prospects are getting a boost from supportive federal policies and incentives that make solar development more attractive.

Federal Policies Driving Solar Growth in Wyoming

Several federal initiatives and incentives are catalyzing Wyoming’s solar expansion by reducing financial hurdles and opening up new land for development. In a state where local policy support has been minimal, these nationwide measures are especially critical. Two in particular stand out: the extension of the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar, and the Department of the Interior’s updated Western Solar Plan which targets public lands for renewable energy. Together, these policies create a more favorable climate for solar projects in Wyoming – both large and small.

30% Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) – A Key Incentive

The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a federal tax credit that covers 30% of the cost of a solar installation, and it has become the single most important incentive for solar in Wyoming. The ITC has been in place since the mid-2000s, but critically, it was extended and increased back to 30% through 2032 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022ecowatch.com. This extension means homeowners and businesses in Wyoming can continue to claim a dollar-for-dollar tax credit equal to 30% of their solar system cost on federal taxes, at least until the credit steps down in the 2030s. The availability of this full 30% credit through 2025 (and beyond) substantially improves the economics of going solar.

For Wyomingites, the federal ITC is essentially the main solar incentive available, given the lack of state programs. Taking advantage of it can yield thousands of dollars in savings on a typical residential solar arrayecowatch.com. For example, a $20,000 rooftop solar installation in Casper or Cheyenne could qualify for about a $6,000 federal tax credit – a huge reduction in effective cost. Businesses installing larger solar projects (or battery storage) can also utilize the 30% credit, or even a Production Tax Credit for utility-scale projects, under the new federal laws. These credits greatly improve project ROI and have been “supercharging solar deployment” nationwide, according to SEIA’s presidentcleantechnica.com.

The continuation of the ITC has come at a pivotal time. In Wyoming, where upfront cost has often been a barrier and electricity prices have historically been low, having 30% of the cost covered by the federal government can tip the scales in favor of solar investment. It’s no surprise that industry experts “highly recommend” Wyoming residents take advantage of the federal credit, especially since the state itself offers so little elseecowatch.com. Essentially, the 30% ITC turns into Wyoming’s de facto solar incentive program, fueling interest among homeowners and making utility-scale projects financeable. Anyone considering installing solar panels in Wyoming should be sure to factor in this tax credit, as it significantly shortens payback time for a solar array.

Western Solar Plan: Opening Wyoming’s Public Lands to Solar

Another federal initiative giving Wyoming a solar boost is the Department of the Interior’s updated Western Solar Plan. Finalized in late 2024, this plan is a comprehensive framework to encourage utility-scale solar development on public lands across 11 western states – now including Wyomingdoi.govdoi.gov. It builds on an earlier (2012) plan that focused on southwestern states, expanding it to more northern Rocky Mountain states that were previously left out. For the first time, Wyoming’s vast Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holdings are explicitly identified as potential sites for solar energy projects.

Under the updated Western Solar Plan, the Interior Department has earmarked 31.7 million acres of federal land in the West as potentially suitable for solar development, with about 3.8 million acres of that in Wyoming alonewyofile.comwyofile.com. This is a huge area – roughly 20% of BLM lands in Wyoming – now mapped as open for solar leasing and fast-tracked permitting. The plan aims to steer solar projects to low-conflict areas (like previously disturbed lands or places near transmission lines) while excluding environmentally sensitive habitats. The end goal is to streamline the approval process for solar farms, reduce red tape, and provide greater certainty to developers looking at sites on federal landdoi.govdoi.gov.

For Wyoming, which has an abundance of federal land, the Western Solar Plan could be transformative. Many of the big solar projects now in development are on private land, but this plan signals that public lands in Wyoming are now open for business for solar in a way they weren’t before. The Interior Department anticipates that only a fraction of the identified acreage (around 700,000 acres across all states) will actually be developed by 2045doi.gov, but the large land availability gives flexibility to choose the best sites. Notably, Wyoming’s suitable areas exclude core sage grouse habitats and other sensitive ranges, focusing instead on places where solar can coexist with existing land useswyofile.com.

The practical effect is that solar companies interested in Wyoming will have an easier path to lease federal land for projects, with a clear roadmap on where projects are likely to be permitted. In fact, officials described the updated plan as a way to “ensure the responsible development of solar energy across the West for decades to come,” while helping meet climate and clean energy goalsdoi.gov. This policy dovetails with the ambitions of developers eyeing Wyoming – for instance, the massive Cowboy Solar project is on private ranch land, but similar large projects could now target federal tracts in sunny parts of the state. The Bureau of Land Management has already exceeded its prior goal of permitting 25 GW of renewables by 2025doi.gov, and the Western Solar Plan will guide further growth. With roughly 3.8 million Wyoming acres now unlocked, the federal government is essentially inviting more large-scale solar into Wyoming, provided it’s done thoughtfully.

In summary, federal policies are creating tailwinds for Wyoming’s nascent solar market. The 30% ITC lowers costs for all projects – from a small rooftop array in Casper to a 700 MW solar farm – making investment more appealing. Meanwhile, the Western Solar Plan addresses a different barrier by making land and permitting more accessible for utility projects in Wyoming. These measures, combined with ongoing technology cost declines, form the backbone of the optimistic solar growth projections for the state. Industry leaders are taking note: SEIA President Abigail Ross Hopper recently noted that U.S. solar deployment is on track to quadruple in the next decade with continued policy supportcleantechnica.com. If that holds true, states like Wyoming stand to benefit significantly – but only if they seize the opportunities at hand.

Outlook: A Brighter Solar Future for the Cowboy State

After years of stagnation, Wyoming’s solar market in 2025 finally appears to be on the cusp of meaningful growth. The convergence of major utility-scale projects, favorable federal incentives, and gradually shifting attitudes suggests that the late 2020s could be a breakout period for solar energy in Wyoming. There are certainly still challenges – entrenched interests and policy battles won’t disappear overnight – but the momentum is clearly building.

If the projected 785 MW of new solar over five years materializes, Wyoming will see substantial benefits. For one, it would bring economic diversification and jobs to a state that has been economically dependent on extractive industries. Construction of large solar farms like Cowboy and Dutchman will create hundreds of jobs during the build-out phasescanarymedia.compv-magazine-usa.com, and ongoing operations will require maintenance crews and support services. Landowners who lease property for solar development stand to gain long-term income, and counties will collect new tax revenues from these multimillion-dollar infrastructure investments. As the Environmental Health News report observed, expanding solar in Wyoming can help “diversify its economy, reduce dependency on coal, and bring significant environmental and financial benefits to the state.”ehn.org This is a critical point in a place where coal plant closures and declining fossil revenues are looming – solar (and wind) provide an avenue for rural communities to generate new revenue and employment.

Environmentally, a solar surge would also cut Wyoming’s carbon footprint and local air pollution. Wyoming has some of the cleanest air in the nation in part due to low population, but its CO2 emissions per capita are high because of heavy coal power generation. Replacing even a portion of that generation with solar will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, solar farms use no water and produce no air pollutants during operation, which is beneficial in Wyoming’s arid climate. Coupled with wind power, Wyoming has the resources to become a renewable energy exporter (sending power to other states) while also protecting its blue skies and open landscapes from pollution. The state’s strong solar potential, once harnessed, can complement its wind “energy alley” and make Wyoming a clean energy powerhouse in the Mountain West.

For local homeowners and businesses, the evolving solar landscape means more opportunities to save on energy bills and increase energy independence. As large projects drive overall capacity up, they also raise awareness and expertise in the region. In places like Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie, and Gillette, more residents are exploring rooftop solar installations to take control of their utility costs. The 30% federal tax credit, combined with rising utility rates in some areas, makes the math increasingly favorable. A typical residential solar setup can significantly cut monthly electric bills, and Wyoming’s net metering policy (though under pressure) allows solar owners to get credit for excess generation, improving payback. With proper design and a good south-facing roof, solar panels in Wyoming can generate ample electricity thanks to the state’s many sunny days.

Crucially, local expertise is growing to support this adoption. Companies based in Wyoming are now offering end-to-end solar design and installation services tailored to the state’s conditions. For example, a local contractor in Casper provides Wyoming solar roofing solutions that integrate solar panels with high-quality roofing, ensuring homes reap energy benefits without compromising on durabilitycasperroofs.com. Working with experienced Wyoming installers is important because they understand the regional climate (cold winters, hail considerations, etc.) and the permitting landscape. Whether it’s a large commercial array or a small solar installation in Casper, tapping into home-grown solar providers can help projects go smoothly and comply with all local regulations. Many residents are pleasantly surprised to learn that even in the winter, Wyoming’s high elevation sun and reflective snow can allow solar panels to continue generating power – and in the long summer days, the excess can carry over credits for later use.

In terms of thought leadership, Wyoming is also starting to see a shift. More state leaders are talking about an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that includes renewables. The fact that huge companies like Enbridge (known for pipelines) are investing in Wyoming solar sends a message that clean energy is becoming mainstream. Public opinion is gradually warming to solar as well – people see neighboring states benefiting and don’t want to be left behind. While old attitudes die hard, the narrative is slowly changing from “coal versus solar” to “coal and solar” (during a transition period) and eventually to embracing what makes economic sense. As one energy analyst put it, renewables are increasingly seen as cost-saving opportunities rather than political statementsclimateactionnow.com. This practical mindset bodes well for more bipartisan support of solar projects at the state and local level in the future.

In conclusion, the Wyoming solar market of 2025 stands at a pivotal inflection point. The state’s solar capacity is still small, but the pipeline of projects and policy support suggest that the next few years will bring rapid growth. Challenges remain – Wyoming must continue to overcome its fossil-fuel inertia and ensure that new solar development addresses wildlife, land use, and grid integration concerns. Yet the trajectory is clearly upward. With nearly 800 MW of new solar on the way (and possibly more), Wyoming could soon shed its last-place ranking and join the clean energy boom happening across the U.S.

For Wyoming’s citizens, this means more choices and benefits: from job creation and tax base expansion in rural counties, to personal savings on power bills for homeowners who go solar. Even the hesitation is fading as successful projects prove that solar can coexist with Wyoming’s landscape and values. As SEIA’s CEO noted, with the right policies the growth of solar is almost a certainty – it’s “market-preferred” energy nowclimateactionnow.com. Wyoming is finally catching that wave. The sun-rich plains and rooftops of the Cowboy State are ready to contribute to America’s renewable energy future. In the process, Wyoming can secure its place in the clean energy economy while preserving the wide open skies that make it so special. The stage is set for a bright solar surge in Wyoming – and the coming years will reveal just how far this once-reluctant state can go toward a more sustainable energy mix.

Sources:

1. Solar Energy Industries Association – Wyoming Solar State Overviewpv-magazine-usa.comcleantechnica.com

2. Environmental Health News (Inside Climate News) – Wyoming hesitates to embrace solar despite its potentialehn.orgehn.org

3. PV Magazine USA – Largest solar project in Wyoming moves forwardpv-magazine-usa.compv-magazine-usa.com

4. Canary Media – Coal-producing Wyoming could host one of the largest US solar farmscanarymedia.comcanarymedia.com

5. WyoFile – Feds finalize plan to expand solar energy in Wyomingwyofile.comwyofile.com

6. EcoWatch – 2025 Wyoming Solar Incentives & Rebatesecowatch.comecowatch.com

7. PV Magazine USA – Sunrise Brief: Wyoming legislation attacks net meteringpv-magazine-usa.com

8. CleanTechnica – Wyoming to Hitch a Ride on Record-Shattering US Solar Industrycleantechnica.comcleantechnica.com

9. Environmental Health News – Why expanding solar matters for Wyomingehn.org

10. Wyoming Energy Authority – Solar Energy in Wyoming (state solar resource)wyoenergy.org