We are the hub for activities shaping Wyoming’s energy sector.

The Wyoming Energy Authority combines the existing scopes of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, Wyoming Pipeline Authority and the State Energy Office, effectively consolidating Wyoming’s energy program into one entity that works to advance the state’s energy strategy by supporting Wyoming’s full energy portfolio.

The Hub of the Industry

The Wyoming Energy Authority coordinates with the entire energy spectrum, empowering collaboration, innovation and growth. This means we:

Promote and support the development of commercial energy projects

Promote and support the development of commercial energy projects

Preserve existing markets while identifying and pursuing new areas for market development

Preserve existing markets while identifying and pursuing new areas for market development

Promote Wyoming’s energy resources and provide education, data and resources with the benefits of Wyoming’s energy assets

Promote Wyoming’s energy resources and provide education, data and resources with the benefits of Wyoming’s energy assets

Leverage financial opportunities to develop efforts conducive to the sustainability of the energy sector in Wyoming

Leverage financial opportunities to develop efforts conducive to the sustainability of the energy sector in Wyoming

Leverage Wyoming’s diverse energy resources for the benefit of Wyoming citizens while preserving environmental stewardship

Leverage Wyoming’s diverse energy resources for the benefit of Wyoming citizens while preserving environmental stewardship

Support the transition of innovative technologies and practices into the Wyoming energy sector

Support the transition of innovative technologies and practices into the Wyoming energy sector

Navigate the Wyoming energy sector through emerging opportunities and help frame best practices for other communities and states

Navigate the Wyoming energy sector through emerging opportunities and help frame best practices for other communities and states

Develop and promote public policies and regulations to ensure the sustainable use of Wyoming’s energy resources

Develop and promote public policies and regulations to ensure the sustainable use of Wyoming’s energy resources

Meet Our Staff

Rob Creager

Anja Richmond

Jami Blosmo

Patrick Millin

Marcio Paes-Barreto

Meet Our Board

The Wyoming Energy Authority is governed by a board of seven voting members appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Senate. Five dedicated ex-officio members participate to ensure collaboration across Wyoming’s energy and business development organizations.

Wendy Hutchinson

Chairwoman

Wanda Burget

Vice Chairwoman

Mark Stege

SECRETARY

Ken Miller

Donna Lawrence

Paul Ulrich

Kara Choquette

Holly Krutka

EX-OFFICIO

Josh Dorrell

EX-OFFICIO

Tom Kropatsch

EX-OFFICIO

Randall Luthi

EX-OFFICIO

Lon Whitman

EX-OFFICIO

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WY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

WY INTEGRATED TEST CENTER

UW SCHOOL OF ENERGY RESOURCES

ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY INSTITUTE

OIL & GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

WY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

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Rob Creager

Rob Creager is the Executive Director of the WEA. He previously served as Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Mark Gordon, where he strongly emphasized Wyoming’s economic portfolio and public policy. In that role, he led multiple efforts, including implementing multiple pieces of federal legislation and the successful execution of five pandemic-related business relief programs. He led the Governor’s budget transparency promise by creating the Wyoming Sense initiative. Creager has also presided over several of Wyoming’s state agencies and served as the Governor’s liaison to the White House. He is a native of Casper, Wyoming and a graduate of the University of Wyoming.

Anja Bendel

Anja Richmond

Anja Richmond serves as the Program Director for the Wyoming Energy Authority. She previously worked for Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development organization for Cheyenne, Wyoming, as the Director of Business Development. While there, she worked on supporting new and existing companies helping on diverse projects such as attracting a new Microsoft data center, relocating Magpul Industries, and developing infrastructure and business parks for shovel-ready sites.

Jami Blosmo

Jami Blosmo

Jami Blosmo serves as the Accounting Manager for the Wyoming Energy Authority. She previously worked for Sierra Trading Post where she held the positions of Accounts Payable Manager and most recently Quality Assurance Supervisor. Originally from Metz, Missouri, Jami obtained her BS in Business Administration: Management from Park College in Parkville, Missouri. Jami and her husband Brian reside outside of Cheyenne with their two children, Dalton and Emma.

Patrick Millin

Patrick Millin joins the Wyoming Energy Authority to serve as the State Energy Program Manager. Patrick completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Wyoming. Patrick was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming and graduated from Cheyenne Central High in 2016. Previously, Patrick worked as a Quality Assurance analyst for Everly Health Diagnostics.

Mario Paes-Barreto

Marcio Paes-Barreto

Marcio Paes-Barreto joins the Energy Authority as Director of Industrial Development. Marcio has worked for the State of Wyoming since 2019 and has developed a practical understanding of Wyoming’s economic landscape and development opportunities. Marcio has fifteen years of experience in Program Management. He also worked for several years in Business Development and Marketing & Communications. Currently, his efforts are focused on developing a nuclear energy program for Wyoming.

WENDY HUTCHINSON

Wendy Hutchinson

Chairwoman

A rancher from Campbell County, Wyoming, Chairwoman Hutchinson has over 35 years of experience in industrial site development, environmental management, and external affairs.  She is the former Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Millennium Bulk Terminals, an operating bulk materials port on the Columbia River.  Previously, Wendy was the Regulatory Affairs Manager for Thunder Basin Coal Company in Wright, WY.  She oversaw permitting for several major expansions that grew permitted capacity more than fivefold. In 2018 Wendy was named one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.  She earned BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from The Ohio State University.  

Wanda Burget

Wanda Burgess

Vice Chairwoman

Wanda Burget has over 44 years of experience in environmental project management.

Prior to her retirement from the coal industry, she worked 30 years for Peabody Energy Corporation, where she managed permitting and environmental compliance for four major surface mining operations in Wyoming and served as the Director, Sustainable Development for Peabody Energy Corporation’s U.S. operations. She was also a member of Peabody’s international project support team. She is the owner and principal of Accord Resource Solutions, LLC, a natural resource consultancy.

Mark Stege

Mark Stege

Secretary/Treasurer

With over 28 years of experience in the electric and natural gas utility industry, Mark recently retired from Black Hills Energy, where he held the position of Vice President of Wyoming Operations in natural gas and electric operations. Mark is active in the community and state and currently serves on the boards of the Wyoming Energy Authority (Secretary/Treasurer), Laramie County Community College Foundation Board (Vice President), and the Blue Federal Credit Union Board (Vice President). Mark also served as the past chairman of the board for the WEA, Wyoming Infrastructure Authority and LEADS. Mark received a B.S. in Geology from the University of Wyoming, a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado, and a licensed CPA in Wyoming (inactive). 

Ken Miller

Kara Choquette

Kenneth Miller has worked in the mineral industries for over 40 years. He graduated from SD School of Mines with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1975. He served as President and CEO of the Millennium Bulk Terminals Longview port on the Columbia River for three years. Prior to that, he worked at the Black Thunder Mine in Wyoming for 23 years as a Department Manager in Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Major Projects, and Process Improvement. Ken has been a Subject Matter Expert for the Coal Industry before the WY Public Service Commission.  He has worked on mining project locations in Australia, Colorado, and North Dakota. He is a retired Professional Engineer in the states of WY and CO.

Ken is a Past President and Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute.  He also served 12 years on the SD School of Mines Foundation Board– the last two years as the Executive Committee Vice-Chairman.

Donna Lawrence

Donna Lawrence

Donna Lawrence is Tax Manager, Property, with Denbury Inc., an oil operator specializing in enhanced oil recovery & CCUS with field operations in Wyoming, Texas, Montana, Louisiana, and Mississippi. She has over 35 years of experience in the property tax field, specializing in the oil & gas industry. Before Denbury, her previous employment spanned 26 years at Burlington Resources/ConocoPhillips. Along with the WEA Board of Directors, she currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Wyoming Taxpayers Association and on committees for the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Texas Taxpayers & Research Association, Texas Oil & Gas Association, and Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, guiding state tax policy. She has received several service awards for her professional service to the O&G and Tax industry. She is a graduate of the University of Texas with a BBA in Petroleum Land Management.

Paul Ulrich

Paul Ulrich

Paul is a 25-year oil and gas veteran and currently serves as Vice President for Jonah Energy LLC. His focus is regulatory, sustainability and Jonah’s Responsibly Produced Natural Gas Initiative. In addition to the WEA Board, Paul serves on the Boards of the Wyoming Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Fishing For the Fight and on Governor Gordon’s Sage Grouse Implementation Team. He is Chairman of the Wyoming Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council, Past Chairman of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming and the BLM Resource Advisory Council. Paul served in the United States Navy in the intelligence community and served on the staff of a Wyoming Governor and Wyoming Congressman. Paul, a fourth-generation Wyoming native, is also a professional fly-fishing guide.

Kara Choquette

Kara Choquette

For nearly 15 years, Choquette has helped The Anschutz Corporation develop two significant renewable energy projects for the West: the 3+ GW Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in Carbon County, and the 732-mile interregional TransWest Express Transmission Project. Choquette’s expertise areas include electricity markets, renewable power and federal permitting. She previously worked in water/energy for an engineering firm, and in high-tech for Xerox Corporation. She grew up on a Nebraska farm/ranch and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa and Missouri universities.