Wyoming Legislature Enacts Law to Counter Unidentified Objects Over Power Plant

For more than thirteen months, recurring sightings of unidentified lighted objects have been documented over the Jim Bridger Power Plant and the adjacent Red Desert expanse in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. This persistent aerial activity, often described as resembling drone-like craft or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), has drawn the attention of local authorities and ultimately spurred significant state legislative action regarding critical infrastructure protection.

The phenomena, observed periodically since at least late 2024, involve illuminated objects sometimes appearing in coordinated formations at considerable altitudes, according to local law enforcement reports. Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle has personally witnessed the unexplained activity, with a recent observation occurring in December 2025. The Sheriff’s spokesman, Jason Mower, confirmed that these objects frequently operate at altitudes too high for ground-based countermeasures to effectively engage them. Despite inquiries by local officials, federal agencies have yet to provide a definitive explanation for the presence of these craft, leading to local frustration even as residents have grown accustomed to the routine nature of the sightings.

High-level local officials sought firsthand confirmation of the phenomena. Sheriff Grossnickle escorted U.S. House Representative Harriet Hageman to observe the activity, and she reportedly witnessed the objects during the observation period. The situation escalated politically in March 2025 when the Wyoming Legislature decisively enacted Senate File 132, overriding Governor Mark Gordon's veto. This legislation specifically addresses unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems operating over critical infrastructure within the state.

Senate File 132 grants local law enforcement the authority to employ reasonable force, including disabling or damaging the aircraft, to stop unauthorized drones violating the new statute. Furthermore, the enacted law authorizes Governor Gordon to deploy the Wyoming National Guard to intervene in such situations. The Wyoming Attorney General is tasked with representing the National Guard and law enforcement in any resulting litigation stemming from the act's enforcement. Governor Gordon had initially opposed the bill, citing concerns that state authorization could place law enforcement in conflict with federal law and regulations.

While the Jim Bridger Power Plant, a facility consisting of four coal-fired units, remains operational, the focus on security has intensified. The legislative response underscores the state's perceived need to secure vital assets against potential aerial threats, even though the objects have not caused any reported harm or disruption to date. The ongoing, unexplained presence of these objects over critical infrastructure in Sweetwater County continues to shape the region's security landscape.