Energy
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Even Industry Insiders Find It Hard To Keep Up With Wyoming Nuclear Boom
The dizzying, supercollider pace of energy investment in Wyoming — especially nuclear — is bringing waves of new faces into the state. It’s happening so fast that industry insiders and trade associations find it hard to keep up.
David MadisonMay 29, 2025
Companies Say National Push Could Accelerate Need For Wyoming’s Rare Earth Minerals
Wyoming's rare earth mining companies are scaling up for what could be the biggest opportunity in decades with a growing demand for minerals that power everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
David MadisonMay 27, 2025
Federal Emergency Order Extends Life Of Power Plant That Burns Wyoming Coal
A U.S. Department of Energy emergency order aims to keep open a Michigan coal-fired power plant that primarily burns Wyoming coal. It counteracts a Michigan law that requires utilities in that state to phase out all coal-fired generation by 2030.
David MadisonMay 27, 2025
Trump’s Order To Cut Red Tape Could Help Put Wyoming Nuclear Projects In Fast Lane
President Donald Trump’s overhaul of U.S. energy policy and direction continues with his executive order aimed at cutting regulatory red tape for nuclear projects. That could help put planned Wyoming nuclear projects in the fast lane for approval.
David MadisonMay 26, 2025
TerraPower Plant Will Have More Nuclear Cops Than The Local Sheriff’s Office
TerraPower experts are working with Wyoming legislators to create a special security force to protect the company's new nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The force of nuclear cops will outnumber the local Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
David MadisonMay 23, 2025
Will Massive Oil And Gas Reserves Mean A New ‘Bakken Boom’ For Southwest Wyoming?
Massive oil and gas reserves identified across southwest Wyoming are being called out this week by federal officials as “substantial.” It has local industry watchers wondering if that could mean a new “Bakken boom” in the region.
David MadisonMay 22, 2025
Pumping CO2 Into Wells Helps With Recovery But Wyoming Energy Leaders Say Cost Is High
Wyoming lawmakers on the Joint Minerals Committee heard testimony Wednesday on how pressurizing oil wells with carbon dioxide pushes out what oil remains, but paying for the infrastructure remains a financial challenge for operators.
David MadisonMay 21, 2025
Campbell, Johnson And Sheridan Counties Seek to Map Coal Seam Fire Threat
There are likely hundreds of smoldering coal seams in northeastern Wyoming and local fire officials are working on a plan to map them from the air as they all have the potential to start wildfires. It's estimated that some of the fires began as far back as 1859 (during the Buchanan administration).
David MadisonMay 21, 2025
Judge Blocks Firings From Program That Supports Coal Miners With Black Lung
When the federal government tried to fire a team protecting coal miners from Wyoming to West Virginia from black lung disease, a miner filed a lawsuit. Last week, a federal judge ordered the restoration of a program that screens miners for the disease.
David MadisonMay 19, 2025
Peabody And Arch/Core Mines Dominate PRB Coal, But Are Shells Of What They Were
The Powder River Basin’s two largest producers continue to be the canary in Wyoming’s coal mining industry. The 2025 first quarter earnings reports were released last week and show Peabody and Arch/Core mines still dominate, but are only shells of what they once were.
Greg JohnsonMay 18, 2025
Doors Swinging Wide Open For Wyoming Energy Development On Public Land
The Trump administration continues to open the floodgates on rolling back restrictions and speeding up timelines for energy development on public land. It’s a relief for Wyoming’s oil and gas sector.
David MadisonMay 16, 2025
Battle Lines Drawn Over Huge Eastern Wyoming ‘Green’ Hydrogen Jet Fuel Project
Battle lines are being drawn over a pair of contentious eastern Wyoming wind and solar projects that recently got leasing approval from state officials. The plan is to make “green” hydrogen jet fuel.
David MadisonMay 15, 2025
Hageman Aims To Protect Hydro Power By Reversing Biden Fish Protections
The U.S. House passed a bill sponsored by Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman on Tuesday that aims to protect the hydro power produced by Glen Canyon Dam. A Biden-era protection on fish bypasses the dam and kills its ability to produce energy, Hageman says.
David MadisonMay 14, 2025
Reaction To Trump Tariffs Helps Push Wyoming Oil Prices To Four-Year Low
The price of oil in Wyoming has been pushed to a four-year low, caused by a response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. A state economist also reports 200 fewer oil and gas jobs than a year ago.
David MadisonMay 13, 2025
Second Major Helium Plant Planned For Southwest Wyoming
Wyoming already produces 20% of the world’s Grade A helium supply from one plant east of Kemmerer. Now it’s about to get another major helium plant in southwest Wyoming.
Renée JeanMay 12, 2025
Wyoming Could Capture Bigger Piece Of US Nuclear Power Than Just Mining Uranium
A pair of the major U.S. players in nuclear power announce a partnership to develop the industry across America — and Wyoming could be ground zero. There's potential for the state do more than just mine uranium.
Renée JeanMay 07, 2025
Group Of Mostly Blue States Sue Trump Over Halt Of Federal Wind Energy Permits
A coalition of 18 attorneys general from mostly blue states is suing the Trump administration over its directive to pump the brakes on federal wind energy permitting. Wyoming has plenty of wind turbines, but isn’t part of the lawsuit.
David MadisonMay 07, 2025
BLM Approves New $5 Billion Pacific Soda Trona Mine Near Green River
The Bureau of Land Management announced Friday it's approved Pacific Soda’s proposed $5 billion Dry Creek Trona Mine Project south of Green River. The project promises hundreds of full-time jobs.
David MadisonMay 05, 2025
Former Wyoming Legislator Now In EPA Approves Long-Delayed Uranium Project
Former Sheridan state legislator Cyrus Western, put in charge of the EPA’s Denver office by the Trump administration, has approved a long-delayed Wyoming uranium mining project. Western says it was past time for “getting government out of the way.”
David MadisonMay 02, 2025
Wyoming A Lynchpin In New Three-State Nuclear Compact With Utah, Idaho
Wyoming has emerged as a lynchpin of a three-state compact with Utah and Idaho signed this week to form a nuclear energy partnership. The TerraPower project near Kemmerer could be just the beginning of a small, modular nuclear reactor revolution.
David MadisonMay 02, 2025
Industry Expert Says Shipping Wyoming Coal Through Gulf Not Far-Fetched
Jackson resident Jim Manley has spent more than 40 years operating barges on the Mississippi River. Transporting Wyoming coal to Asia via barges from the Gulf Coast instead of the West Coast is not far-fetched at all, he said.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2025
Gordon Wants To Use Gulf Coast Ports To Export Wyoming Coal, Gas To Asia
Gov. Mark Gordon said Wednesday he wants to use Gulf Coast ports to ship more Wyoming coal to Japan and Taiwan and beat out Alaska as a main trade partner.
Leo WolfsonApril 30, 2025
Hageman Says Wyoming Can Be Part Of Hydropower Boom Across West
Harriet Hageman says there needs to be more investment in hydropower projects across the West, including Wyoming. She says hydropower can be “the backbone of our region’s energy future.”
David MadisonApril 30, 2025
State Wants To Know How Much Coal Is Left In Wyoming, And Who Will Buy It
The Wyoming Energy Authority is preparing a first-of-its-kind analysis of Wyoming’s coal industry. It will determine just how much coal is left in Wyoming, and who will buy it if it’s mined.
David MadisonApril 28, 2025
Oil And Gas Producers Want To Chill Despite Push To Drill, Baby, Drill
The Trump administration is pulling out all the stops to “drill, baby, drill” in a push for more oil and gas drilling on public land. But low oil prices have producers in Wyoming wanting to instead "chill, baby, chill” to boost the market.
David MadisonApril 26, 2025
Wyoming Power Plant May Be Proving Ground For Emissions-Free Coal Burning
The Dave Johnston Power Plant near Glenrock is where PacifiCorp is trying to prove new tech that can achieve emissions-free coal burning. Some experts are optimistic about the prospect, while others wonder if it can be done and at what cost.
David MadisonApril 24, 2025
Clean Energy Company Says Its Tech Could Eliminate Smokestacks On Coal Plants
The smokestacks towering above the Dave Johnston power plant are a fixture on the skyline outside of Glenrock. A group of engineering and technology experts are meeting there this week with the goal of making them obsolete.
David MadisonApril 22, 2025
Former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin Joins Ramaco Resources Board
The company developing a rare earth element mine in Ranchester added former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to its team. While in office, Manchin was a leading advocate for the mining industry.
David MadisonApril 22, 2025
Wyoming Rare Earths Could Be Processed At Retooled Plant In Utah
A uranium mill in Utah with ties to operations stretching from Wyoming to Madagascar is retooling to process rare earths. That could be good news for Wyoming mines, which are accelerating their production plans.
David MadisonApril 16, 2025
Peabody Closes ‘Substantial’ Deal For Coal From Its Flagship Wyoming Coal Mine
Peabody Energy, which operates the world’s most productive coal mine, announced Tuesday it has a “substantial” contract to supply Associated Electric Cooperative for “at least the next seven years.”
David MadisonApril 16, 2025
Wyoming Oil And Gas Producers Cheer No More Environmental Review For Federal Leases
Wyoming oil and gas producers are cheering a new directive lifting requirements for environmental reviews for federal leases. The move affects more than 3,200 leases across seven Western states, including Wyoming.
David MadisonApril 15, 2025
Tech Squeezes Millions More Barrels Of Oil From Wyoming Wells
Wyoming’s Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute is partnering with private companies to give aging oil fields a new lease on life. The technology is allowing millions more barrels of oil to be squeezed out of existing wells.
Zakary SonntagApril 13, 2025
Research Shows Solar Panels Can Also Generate Electricity At Night
New research shows there’s a process that offers the promise of around-the-clock electricity generation with solar panels. But the technology is not yet available for people to use to power their homes.
David MadisonApril 12, 2025
$30 Million Investment Bets On Glenrock Being Wyoming’s Next Uranium Hot Spot
Could an area north of Glenrock become Wyoming’s next uranium hot spot? A $30 million investment from a Canada mining venture is betting it will.
David MadisonApril 09, 2025
Chinese Export Restrictions Could Help Wyoming’s Rare Earths Industry
Wyoming’s rare earth minerals industry is cautiously optimistic about restrictions China has put on exporting the same rare earth minerals they mine in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Leo WolfsonApril 07, 2025
From Ohio To Wyoming, Nearly 50 Years Of Working In And Around U.S. Coal
Paul Hughes started work in coal-burning industry as a teenager in Ohio in the late 1970s. That eventually brought him to Wyoming, which has turned into nearly 50 years working in and around the coal industry in the East and West.
Renée JeanApril 06, 2025