Wyoming relies considerably on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Oil & Gas Royalty program, with federal receipts funding between 25 and 30 percent of the state’s budget.
- Wyoming is the eighth largest crude oil producing state in the U.S., producing approximately 280 thousand barrels per day.
- The state ranked ninth nationally in natural gas production with output over 4.1 billion cubic feet per day.
- Much of this production is on U.S. federal lands.
- For fiscal year 2019, federal oil and gas royalties funded over 26% ($1.24 billion) of the state budget, much of it dedicated to public schools, health, and higher education.
- Reducing Wyoming’s oil production will not result in lower oil and gas consumption, but higher imports.
From the EPRINC Chart of the Week archive.