Producing electricity with large-scale renewable energy projects could become illegal in Wyoming under new legislation filed by politicians in the state.

The Republican-controlled state legislature introduced the measure that would forbid utility companies from supplying energy to the grid that comes from large-scale wind or solar projects.

​The bill’s nine sponsors, which include two state senators and seven state representatives, largely come from Wyoming’s top coal-producing counties which have been threatened by the arrival of shale gas and the spread of renewable energy sources.

It proposes that heavy fines by levied on utilities that continue to, or begin, providing energy from “non-eligible” sources.

The move is supposed to ensure that 95 per cent of Wyoming’s energy comes from “eligible resources” by 2018 and 100 per cent by 2019.

“Eligible resources” are defined as coal, hydroelectric, natural gas and small scale wind or solar production – meaning rooftop solar panels or wind turbines for individual homeowners or small businesses private use would not be allowed.

Despite the proposals, energy experts and activists say it is unlikely to become law.

“I think there will be a lot of concerns about its workability and whether this is something the state needs to do," Shannon Anderson, the director of local organising group Powder River Basin Resource Council, told InsideClimate News.

"It seems to be 'talking-point' legislation at this point."

In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. 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But she stressed that the development was very troubling, saying she had never “seen anything like this before” and it was “essentially a reverse renewable energy standard”.

Wyoming is currently the largest producer and consumer of coal in the US.

Nearly 90 per cent of the state’s electricity was generated through coal, according to the most recent data.

Renewable energy, mainly wind power, was the second largest source.

As a large sparsely populated state with vast energy resources Wyoming is a net producer of energy.

It is set to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Donald Trump’s pledge to revitalise the struggling coal industry. On the campaign trail he claimed clean energy was bad for the economy.

Within days of taking office he announced plans to roll back environmental regulations at a meeting with the heads of several car firms – saying “environmentalism is out of control”.