Who owns the wind? We do, Wyoming says, and it's taxing those who use it

Los Angeles Times ^ | 14 August 2016 | William Yardley

[Lorianne]

ot long after it became clear that the robust winds that blow down from the Rocky Mountains and across the sea of sagebrush here could produce plenty of profit in a world that wants more renewable energy, some of the more expansive minds in the Wyoming Legislature began entertaining a lofty question:

Who owns all of that wind?

They concluded, quickly and conveniently, that Wyoming did.

Then, with great efficiency for a conservative state not traditionally tilted toward burdening the energy industry, they did something no other state has done, before or since: They taxed it.

[Talisker]

The bureaucratic mind is the mind of a locust.

[Gaffer]

I’d rather the state of Wyoming assert they own the wind there and force those involved who benefit from Federal largess and graft see profit off the back of the taxpayer.

[telstar12.5]

Good -Kali gets the energy -they get the eyesores.seems fair.

[TADSLOS]

Now a taxable instrument.

[April Lexington]

They should tax farts while they’re at it. Thats good biogas!! A renewable resource if ever there was one...

[Red Badger]

Hosea 8:7

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

[Yo-Yo]

[napscoordinator]

Just wait until Wyoming runs out of water and has to rely on the states with water. They may regret their tight fisted ways. The entire West Coast is going to be in huge trouble with regards to water in 15 years if that long. Keep it up Wyoming. Those you screw will be happy to return it back to you.

[Pollster1]

“Taxman”

- The Beatles

Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman

If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet

Taxman!
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman

Don’t ask me what I want it for (Aahh Mr. Wilson)
If you don’t want to pay some more (Aahh Mr. Heath)
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

And you’re working for no one but me
Taxman!

[Gaffer]

To my mind, the ‘water’ problem is California sucking up the water from anywhere within 300 miles.

The state would not exist on its own if it couldn’t rape the resources from its surrounding states.

[Maceman]

The wind is an act of God. With respect to civil, or even criminal, liability, Acts of God are beyond the control of humans, and thus no humans own them, nor can they be responsible for their impact on our lives. That is why undeunder law, parties to a contract cannot be held liable for any damage they cause.

If states “own the wind” and therefore can tax it, does that mean that Kansas, for example, owns the tornadoes that plague that state, and thus can be sued for damages?

I don’t think so.

[Mouton]

By then we will all have our breathe meters on us...whoa to those who have respiration problems as their meters will run off the charts.

[ClearCase_guy]

I could be wrong but I seem to remember a recent story in which a state tried to tax the rain water that fell on peoples’ property.

None of this will end well.

[dfwgator]

I’m still trying to figure out the colors of the wind.

[Paladin2]

Maryland

[KC_for_Freedom]

I think you raise an interesting case. If the wind causes damage in Wyoming, I believe the state has just signed on to ownership of this too.

[lacrew]

Weird...people are worried that taxing something would be harmful to its existence.

[KC_Lion]

Ping!

This is Mr. Burns level of Villainy right here.

[napscoordinator]

Maryland does that. The rain tax it’s called.