Governor Gordon approves three Wyoming energy projects for cost-share funding

CHEYENNE, WYOMING—The Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA) announced today that Governor Gordon had approved three separate projects to receive Energy Matching Funds (EMF). Airloom Energy has been awarded $5 million of the Energy Matching Funds towards their modular, scalable, utility-scale wind energy device. Blue Spruce Operating has been awarded $6 million for its Dry Piney Project, which plans to expand helium production alongside natural gas and carbon sequestration. Prabhu Energy Labs has been awarded $456,450 for a methane mitigation demonstration project whose collaborators include Jonah Energy and the University of Wyoming’s Center for Air Quality. 

“These three projects feature innovative approaches that fit within Wyoming’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy portfolio,” Governor Gordon said. “They represent opportunities for new jobs and additional investment in Wyoming.”

“As the energy industry continues to become increasingly complex, it is paramount for Wyoming to use every resource available to it to maintain its position as an energy powerhouse,” said Rob Creager, Executive Director of the Wyoming Energy Authority. “The energy matching funds have been a unique tool to encourage the industry to continue to choose Wyoming when they are developing technology and resources that will carry our number one industry through the 21st century. These awards tackle a range of projects and show yet again that we are the home for energy innovation that will ensure the strength of Wyoming-made energy for decades to come.”

Airloom Energy, a wind energy generation technology company from Laramie, will use its award to design, build and test a 1 MW demonstration device that validates the company’s innovative, low-profile design. Airloom has developed a revolutionary wind energy system that uses the same aerodynamic concepts as conventional wind turbine technology but with unique geometry, resulting in a lower cost, higher efficiency and lower impact system. The company recently developed a 5 kW-scale prototype in Pine Bluffs that showcased the device’s vertical airfoils positioned perpendicularly on a continuous track. Vastly smaller in scale than a traditional wind turbine whose blades are 180 feet, Airloom’s modular technology uses 30-foot airfoils, which minimize a variety of impacts from transportation, installation, cost, and environmental footprint. If successful, this design could simultaneously capture Wyoming’s abundant wind resources and generate revenue for the state while minimizing impacts on wildlife and vistas. 

“We are fortunate to be building Airloom in Wyoming, where leaders in government and innovative companies are fostering growth and innovation in energy.  It’s due in large part to this ecosystem that Airloom is poised to accelerate the development of its cutting-edge wind energy technology and redefine the future of renewable power generation,” remarked Neal Rickner, Airloom Energy’s CEO. “This funding not only underscores the State of Wyoming’s commitment to environmental stewardship but also demonstrates its vision for utilizing Wyoming’s diverse resources to solidify its position as a leader in energy innovation.”

Blue Spruce Operating’s Dry Piney Helium & Carbon Sequestration Project, located on the LaBarge Anticline in the Greater Green River Basin, plans to expand Wyoming’s role as a key supplier of helium and natural gas while also better characterizing the carbon sequestration potential of the largest conventional geologic structure in the state. The LaBarge Anticline contains valuable helium and methane but also offers the potential to sequester world-class quantities of CO2 permanently. Helium is a highly sought-after noble gas used for applications ranging from healthcare to semiconductor manufacturing to aerospace engineering. Domestic helium production has been in decline, and global supply is currently centered in Qatar and Russia. Blue Spruce initially plans to drill one production and one injection test well while designing and constructing a large-scale gas processing plant. The project’s overall aim is to produce more than 800 million cubic feet per year of helium (over 10% of the current world helium market) and capture and permanently sequester 4.5 million metric tons per year of carbon dioxide.

“In partnership with the Wyoming Energy Authority, Blue Spruce Operating has the opportunity to expand the world-class carbon sequestration potential of Wyoming’s LaBarge Anticline, one of the largest geologic structures in North America,” said Robert Ferguson, Partner and Co-Founder of Blue Spruce Operating LLC. “In addition to detailed characterization of the Madison and Bighorn Formations at LaBarge, Blue Spruce plans to apply novel designs in carbon separation, gathering, and transportation.  We look forward to building upon Wyoming’s leadership in both carbon sequestration and helium production.”  

Prabhu Energy Labs, together with Jonah Energy and the University of Wyoming’s Center for Air Quality, will demo the Oxiperator, a first-of-its-kind mitigation technology that captures methane and then uses it to generate energy on-site. Methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, is a primary component of natural gas and comes under federal regulations. The project, at Jonah Energy’s Pinedale production site, will demonstrate that the Oxiperator can help reduce the overall greenhouse gas (CO2e) footprint of oil and natural gas production without producing nitrogen oxides (NOx) – criteria pollutants and ozone precursors. 

“The WEA Energy Matching Funds program was a key factor in the decision to bring Prabhu Energy Labs’ work with the US Department of Energy to the State of Wyoming. I have been impressed with Wyoming’s ability to foster public-private collaboration on energy innovation. Jonah Energy, in particular, has shown leadership in making that happen in methane emissions reduction,” said Monica Prabhu, Commercialization & Communications Officer at Prabhu Energy Labs. “Prabhu Energy Labs looks forward to working with the University of Wyoming’s Center for Air Quality, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and Jonah Energy to improve air quality and lower the overall methane emissions intensity of Wyoming’s energy sector.”

“Jonah Energy has one of the most comprehensive and credible emission reduction programs in the United States,” said Howard Dieter, VP of Environmental, Health & Safety and Strategic Energy Initiatives at Jonah Energy. “One way we’ve been able to achieve that is by implementing new technologies. PEL’s groundbreaking Oxiperator innovation represents a crucial step in methane emissions reduction for the Green River Basin, the state of Wyoming and the entire US oil and gas industry. This project will be a showcase for responsible oil and gas production.”

In 2022, the Wyoming State Legislature appropriated funds to the Office of the Governor in an effort to leverage Wyoming-based energy projects receiving federal or private funding. The projects must meet the criteria set forth by the legislature: for research, demonstration, pilot projects or commercial deployment projects related to Wyoming energy needs, including but not limited to carbon capture utilization and storage, carbon dioxide transportation, industrial carbon capture, coal refinery, and hydrogen production, transportation, storage, hydrogen hub development, biomass, biochar, hydropower, lithium, processing and separation, battery storage or wind and solar energy. 

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 a Review Committee – comprised of the Executive Director of the WEA, a designee from the Governor’s Office, the Director of the Department of Workforce Services, the CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, and the Executive Director of the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources. If projects are recommended to proceed, a ten-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 project awarded has been thoroughly considered by multiple parties, including an invitation to members of the public to weigh in on projects.

The Energy Matching Funds continuously accepts concept papers but follows a periodic review process. For more information, please visit our website page.