Energy

A brilliantly colored snowbow appeared during a Monday evening snowstorm at the Brooks Lake Lodge in Wyoming's Wind River Mountains. Snowbows are the same phenomenon as rainbows, but they're much rarer and harder to see and photograph.

Photographer Captures Rare Snowbow Near Brooks Lake Lodge

Meteorologists say snowbows are a rarity, like the one that appeared during a Monday evening snowstorm at Brooks Lake Lodge near Dubois. What's even more rare is to actually photograph one. "They're hard to catch," said meteorologist Celia Hensley.

Andrew RossiSeptember 17, 2025

Matt Korda, a watchdog who tracks global nuclear weapons trends, was at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne on Tuesday to highlight Wyoming’s lead role in the $141 billion replacement of aging Minuteman III missiles.

Nuclear Watchdog Visits Wyoming As State Prepares For Sentinel Missiles

A watchdog who tracks global nuclear weapons trends was in Wyoming on Tuesday to highlight Wyoming’s lead role in the $141 billion replacement of aging Minuteman III missiles at F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

Renée JeanSeptember 16, 2025

Campbell County Courthouse nuclear waste 2 9 16 25

Campbell County Considers Putting Nuclear Waste Ban To A Vote

Campbell County Commissioners on Tuesday considered a ballot resolution asking people to vote on whether nuclear waste should be stored there. With other states eying Wyoming for their waste, "we need to make a statement," Commissioner Jerry Means said.

David MadisonSeptember 16, 2025

After nearly a decade of litigation, a developer who wants to open an export terminal in Oakland, Californi, expects a state Supreme Court ruling by Oct. 1. If upheld, the terminal could be a West Coast port to ship Wyoming coal to overseas markets.

California Terminal Project Ruling Could Open Coal Export Markets For Wyoming

After nearly a decade of litigation, a developer who wants to open an export terminal in Oakland, California, expects a state Supreme Court ruling by Oct. 1. If upheld, the terminal could be a West Coast port to ship Wyoming coal to overseas markets.

David MadisonSeptember 14, 2025

A dragline moves coal at the Black Butte mine in Sweetwater County.

Black Butte Mine Expansion Approved After Years of Federal Delays

The Department of the Interior on Tuesday has approved access to 9.2 million tons of federal coal at the Black Butte mine near Rock Springs. It comes after years of federal delays and allows a return to full-scale mining.

David MadisonSeptember 10, 2025

Evanston Company Contracts With Army To Make Portable Nuclear Reactors

An Evanston-based nuclear manufacturer says it's working with the U.S. Army to produce shipping container-sized reactors. They're designed to outperform the Army’s current diesel generators.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 09, 2025

Lower Valley Energy, which serves Jackson and Afton, announced an electricity rate increase, followed by a natural gas rate decrease ahead of the winter season when both are used to heat homes. It's part of a larger rate hike for an energy wholesaler that also sells to Rock Mountain Power.

Wholesaler That Sells To Rocky Mountain Power, Other Utilities Hiking Rates 9%

Residents in Jackson and Aston will see their electricity bills go up under a nearly 9% average rate hike by Bonneville Power Admin. The company also sells wholesale to Rocky Mountain Power, which serves a wide swath of central and southern Wyoming.

David MadisonSeptember 08, 2025

Federal prosecutions in Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico say they face mounting challenges enforcing oil and gas waste disposal laws across the U.S. West. Two Wyoming oil field workers from Crowheart Energy near Wamsutter recently convicted for dumping in Utah both got probation.

Wyoming Case Exposes Challenges Of Stopping Illegal Oil Field Waste Dumping

Federal investigators have documented a series of illegal oil field waste disposal cases across the American West. Most recently, two Wyoming oil field supervisors were sentenced for directing crew members to bury contaminated waste in Carbon County.

David MadisonSeptember 06, 2025

Energy supporters across Wyoming are holding their breath as they wait to see how the Trump administration’s continued steps against onshore and offshore wind projects will impact the industry in the Cowboy State.

Trump’s Offshore Wind Crackdown Has Wyoming Wind Advocates Worried

Wind energy supporters across Wyoming are holding their breath as they wait to see how the Trump administration’s continued steps against onshore and offshore wind projects will impact the industry in the Cowboy State.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 05, 2025

Visiting a Gillette-based Cyclone Drilling rig in Sweetwater County were Joe Nicholas and Alicia Summers of Frontier Carbon Solutions, and David Lucke, Abdeldjalil Latrach, Autumn Eakin, Lily Jackson, Tao Bai and Zunsheng Jiao of UW’s School of Energy Resources.

Gillette Company Drills Down 3+ Miles For CO2 Storage Well, Deepest Ever In U.S.

A drilling company from Gillette punched through nearly 3.5 miles of Wyoming rock in Sweetwater County to complete the deepest Class VI carbon dioxide storage well ever drilled in the United States.

David MadisonSeptember 04, 2025

Wyoming In Running For Major Uranium Facility In Push For U.S. Fuel Security

Uranium Energy Corp. has announced plans for a state-of-the-art uranium refining facility that would be the nation's largest. Wyoming is on the short list to be home to the processing complex.

David MadisonSeptember 03, 2025

Since 2015, land managers, conservationists and the oil and gas industry have debated how to balance the needs of the sage grouse with new oil and gas development. Now the Trump administration hopes to finalize a plan supported by oil and gas producers.

Trump Updates Sage Grouse Rules, Reigniting Debate Over Controversial Bird

Land managers, conservationists and the oil and gas industry have debated for a decade how to balance the needs of sage grouse with oil and gas development. Now the Trump administration hopes to finalize a plan supported by oil and gas producers.

David MadisonSeptember 02, 2025

Rancher Says Wind, Solar Don't Impact Land Any More Than Cell Towers, Oil Rigs

Paul Norfleet is one of dozens of Wyoming landowners partnering with NextEra Energy on a new wind and solar project near Chugwater. He says the turbines and panels don’t impact the landscape any more than cell towers, oil rigs and transmission lines.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 01, 2025

A shovel loads a coal haul truck at Navajo Transitional Energy Co.'s Spring Creek Mine.

Once Called A 'House of Cards,' Navajo Energy Mounts Wyoming Coal Comeback

Federal approvals signal a turnaround for the Navajo Transitional Energy Co., which critics once said was doomed. The company is now poised to dig millions of tons of Wyoming and Montana Powder River Basin coal.

David MadisonAugust 31, 2025

$1 Billion Pipeline Deal Is Energy Giant's First Play Into Wyoming Energy

Houston-based Harvest Midstream has signed a $1 billion deal to buy MPLX's extensive natural gas network across the Uinta and Green River basins. It’s the first major investment in Wyoming energy for the company and its billionaire owner, Jeff Hildebrand.

David MadisonAugust 29, 2025

Spanish energy giant Repsol’s plan for 170 turbines near Horse Creek is dividing Laramie County ranchers. Locals weigh the economic benefits against threats to wildlife, traffic, coveted views and private property rights.

Wyoming Ranchers Divided Over 50,000-Acre Laramie County Wind Farm Plan

Spanish energy giant Repsol’s plan for 170 turbines near Horse Creek is dividing Laramie County ranchers. Some say the project is a threat to wildlife and the serenity of the area while others say it's a private property issue and landowners should be able to develop their own land.

Jackson WalkerAugust 28, 2025

Ur-Energy’s in-situ mining field for uranium with water rigs set up in the background.

Wyoming Passes Texas, Closing In On Being Nation’s Top Uranium-Producing State

Wyoming has passed Texas to become the nation’s No. 2 producing state for uranium. It’s poised to challenge Utah for No. 1 as nuclear energy demand booms and prices soar.

David MadisonAugust 27, 2025

American Rare Earths excavates blasted material at its Cowboy State Mine in the Halleck Creek area outside Wheatland.

Wyoming Projects In Bulls-Eye Of America’s Urgent Push For Rare Earths

After decades in obscurity, America's rare earth industry came roaring back this summer, and Wyoming is in the bulls-eye of an urgent push for U.S. production. One company's experience offers a case study of getting a new mine up and running.

David MadisonAugust 27, 2025

Mike Stephens holds up a photo of the view from his land that will be permiated with wind turbines if a proposed wind project is completed. He's sued the state over leasing public land to the company.

Rancher Challenges Wyoming Wind Project Over Wildlife, Lease Rules

A Converse County rancher claims that a plan for a wind farm harms sage grouse and big game habitat in a lawsuit contesting Wyoming’s approval. He also questions the economic benefits promised and says it will destroy the views from his multigenerational property.

David MadisonAugust 26, 2025

DIA plans a $1.25 million study to weigh small modular reactors as a clean, reliable power source. That’s also drawing interest from Wyoming manufacturers as the airport aims to become the world’s greenest and meet soaring passenger demand.

Denver International Airport Considers Going Nuclear With Small Reactors

DIA is considering small modular nuclear reactors to power the airport which is attracting interest from Wyoming manufacturers that build them. The Trump administration is speeding up the permitting process for these reactors which would give the airport energy independence.

Justin GeorgeAugust 23, 2025

Raised solar panels allow sheep to graze under them, allowing dual-use of the land while also providing shade and shelter for the sheep.

One Of Wyoming's First Combo Agriculture-Solar Farm Can’t Find A Buyer For Its Power

A $155 million project in Goshen County that would be one of Wyoming’s first agriculture-friendly solar farm says it can’t find a buyer for its power. That has cost the project an investor, but developers say it’s not dead.

David MadisonAugust 14, 2025

South Cheyenne rancher Ed Prosser looks north of his farmland off of Chalk Bluff Road where 1.2 million solar panels will be visible after Canadian energy giant Enbridge builds the $1.2 billion project starting next year.

Wyoming Board OKs 50% Battery Storage Increase For Laramie County Solar Project

In a 4-2 vote, state regulators approved Canadian energy company Enbridge’s request to expand battery storage for a massive solar farm project near Cheyenne. The OK came despite objections from a local rancher who said the land will never be the same.

Clair McFarlandAugust 13, 2025

Expansion Speeds Up As Federal Regulators Accelerate Black Butte Mine Expansion

The Department of the Interior announced Tuesday it is accelerating a federal review of Black Butte Mine expansion in Sweetwater County, setting a 28-day timeline for completing an environmental impact statement that typically takes years to finish.

David MadisonAugust 13, 2025

The antelope coal mine in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, operatied by Navajo Transitional Energy Company.

Delegation, Gordon Cheer Trump Administration OK Of Wyoming Coal Mine Extension

The Trump administration has approved 14.5 million more tons of coal for the Antelope Mine in the Power River Basin. The Wyoming delegation and Gov. Gordon are applauding the decision, which extends the mine’s operations through 2037 and protects 359 full-time jobs.

David MadisonAugust 11, 2025

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