Energy
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Microbes Used To ‘Supercharge’ Gas Production From Powder River Basin Coal Seams
Recent USGS research shows naturally occurring underground microbes can “supercharge” natural gas production from Powder River Basin coal seams.
David MadisonApril 03, 2025
Trump’s Energy Order Includes Solar Money For Ranchers, Small Businesses
Wyoming ranchers, farmers and small business owners can still get federal money for their solar energy projects. It’s there if they revise them to align with President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order.
David MadisonApril 02, 2025
Interest In Community Solar Power Projects Grows In Wyoming And Montana
As legislators in Wyoming and Montana debate solar power in their states, more homeowners are installing panels. They’re also considering community solar projects where people can subscribe to get power, like they would for Netflix or other services.
David MadisonMarch 31, 2025
BLM OKs Plan To Store CO2 Under 600,000 Acres Of Southwest Wyoming
The Bureau of Land Management has approved a plan to store carbon dioxide under 605,100 acres of land in southwest Wyoming. Over 30 years, it could store 600 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
David MadisonMarch 27, 2025
Power Plants Burning More Wyoming Coal So Far In 2025
Despite the layoffs of 28 Kemmerer coal mine workers last week, there’s evidence of an uptick in demand for thermal coal from Wyoming. So far in 2025, power plants are burning more coal.
David MadisonMarch 27, 2025
Bar Nunn Locals Receptive To Build Micro Reactors, Not So Much Storing Spent Fuel
Bar Nunn locals were receptive to a $250 million to $500 million project to build micro nuclear reactors there at a Tuesday meeting to present the plan. They aren’t as excited about the spent nuclear fuel coming back to be stored there.
Leo WolfsonMarch 26, 2025
With Rare Earths In Trump’s Fast Lane, Wyoming Projects Get Cash Infusions
As the Trump administration continues to put domestic development of rare earth mining and processing in the fast lane, Wyoming’s big projects benefit. The push means huge infusions of cash to develop them.
David MadisonMarch 26, 2025
Trump Order Further Tees Up Wyoming To Become Leader In Rare Earth Elements
Trump’s executive order last week to boost production of rare earth elements tees up Wyoming become a focus for that. Breaking China’s stranglehold on the world’s supply “is an emergency,” says Holly Krutka, who heads UW’s School of Energy Resources.
David MadisonMarch 24, 2025
Trump Promises Comeback For U.S. Coal, To Reopen “Hundreds” Of Coal-Fired Plants
President Trump promised this week to reopen “hundreds” of coal-fired power plants and spark a comeback for the industry. Wyoming experts say that’s refreshing to hear, but it won’t happen as long as coal costs more than gas and renewables.
David MadisonMarch 20, 2025
New Report Says There’s Still 'Substantial' Oil And Gas Under Wyoming
A U.S. Geological Survey report released last week says there’s still "substantial" oil and gas underneath Wyoming. The Powder River, Wind River and Bighorn basins still have nearly 50 million barrels of oil and close to 1 billion cubic feet of gas.
David MadisonMarch 19, 2025
Consumer Advocates Warn More Rate Increases Ahead For Rocky Mountain Power Customers
Both of Wyoming’s consumer advocate groups foresee more rate increases ahead for Rocky Mountain Power customers. If commissioners approve the latest rate increase, the overall rate increase in the past two years totals 30.4%.
Renée JeanMarch 13, 2025
Uranium Energy Corp. Produces Its First Batch Of Wyoming Yellowcake Uranium
Uranium Energy Corp. has hit a milestone, producing its first batch of Wyoming yellowcake uranium. It’s a huge step for the company as it ramps up to 8.1 million pounds of production capacity in the Cowboy State.
Renée JeanMarch 08, 2025
Lawmaker Announces Plan To Build Next-Generation Coal-Fired Plant In Wyoming
A new coal-fired power plant hasn’t opened in the U.S. since 2013, but that’s about to change. A leading state legislator tells Cowboy State Daily that plans are in the works to build a next-generation coal and CO2 plant in Wyoming.
David MadisonMarch 06, 2025
Meier, Gray Believe Land Purchase In Washington Could Open Way For Coal Exports
In an effort to export Wyoming coal to the Pacific Rim, Treasurer Curt Meier and Secretary of State Chuck Gray believe purchasing land in Washington state could give Wyoming the legal standing to make it happen.
Renée JeanMarch 05, 2025
Wyoming Fights Biden Rule Some Say Tries To Price Out Oil And Gas Operators
Wyoming legislators have fought back against a Biden administration effort some say tries to price out oil and gas producers by hiking bond rates 1,400% and more. A $45 million pool of money will help those operators with their bonding.
Zakary SonntagMarch 04, 2025
Trump Says US Needs To Double Or Triple ‘Electrical Capacity,’ Wyoming Says It’s Ready
President Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting Wednesday and suggested the country must double or triple its “electrical capacity.” Wyoming energy officials say they are ready to help make that happen.
Renée JeanFebruary 27, 2025
House Committee Kills Bill To Store Radioactive Waste In Wyoming
A House committee rejected a proposal Wednesday to build small nuclear power plants. Assurances that the legislation would not bring radioactive “green slime” to Wyoming weren’t enough to convince committee members.
David MadisonFebruary 19, 2025
Virginia Company Scouting Wyoming For Spot To Build Uranium Fuel Plant
Virginia-based BWX Technologies is not just looking to deploy small micro nuclear reactors in Wyoming. It’s scouting the state for possible sites to build a uranium fuel plant.
Renée JeanFebruary 19, 2025
Despite Chilly Climate, It’s Business As Usual For Wind, Solar Energy In Wyoming
Wind and solar energy projects in Wyoming are moving ahead with their projects, despite the recent chill from both federal and state lawmakers. Most of the projects are on private property, project managers say, which helps de-risk the projects.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025
Wyoming Family Learns Solar Panels Aren’t For The Faint Of Heart
A Happy Valley family who lives near Cheyenne found out the hard way that solar panels aren’t for the faint of heart. They do work, and they do defray energy costs, but there are a lot of headaches that go along with it. It helps if you have the patience of a saint.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025
USGS Using A Helicopter Hula Hoop To See What's Buried Under Southeast Wyoming
The United States Geological Survey has started flying helicopters between 100 to 200 feet above the ground with a giant electromagnetic sensor to identify water, minerals and metals buried up to 1,500 feet underground in southeast Wyoming.
Andrew RossiFebruary 07, 2025
TerraPower Nuclear Training Center In Kemmerer Will Be One-Of-A-Kind In The World
The 35,000-square-foot nuclear training center TerraPower is building in Kemmerer, Wyoming, will be the only one of its kind in the world. Plans are for it to train all the company’s nuclear techs wherever in the world their Natrium reactors are.
Renée JeanFebruary 04, 2025
If Cow Belches Are So Bad, Why Didn’t The U.S. West's 60M Bison Kill The Planet?
If cow belches and farts are so bad, why didn’t the vast herds of 60 million bison roaming the U.S. West before the 1880s kill the planet? The nonprofit Western Justice wants to know, but science suggests they’re not comparable.
Andrew RossiJanuary 29, 2025
Kemmerer Officials Hope TerraPower Deal Could Attract AI Data Center
As Bill Gates-backed TerraPower continues building a first-of-its-kind nuclear plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, it has struck a deal with the nation’s largest independent data center provider. Local officials hope that could lead to an AI data center there.
Renée JeanJanuary 22, 2025
Wyoming's Powder River Basin Sitting On Untapped Oil And Gas Potential
The oil and gas industry has been talking up the potential of the Powder River Basin for 20 years. Even so, Wyoming’s busiest play still only has about 11 rigs running. It’s going to take more than an oil-friendly administration to increase production.
Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025
Feds OK Wyoming Idea To Use Old Wind Turbines To Fill In Coal Mines
Wyoming’s innovative plan to allow coal mines to accept wind turbine blades as fill material has cleared the Biden administration, almost four years after the state approved it.
Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025
Rocky Mountain Power To Cancel Planned Retirements Of Its Wyoming Coal Plants
Rocky Mountain Power announced last week that it’s cancelling the retirements of its Wyoming coal-fired power plants. But that doesn’t mean they’ll be burning coal long into the future.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 09, 2025
Industry: Court Ruling BLM Illegally Halted Oil And Gas Lease Sales Is Too Late
A judge ruled Tuesday that the BLM illegally suspended a 2022 Wyoming oil and gas lease. While pleased with the decision, the governor and industry officials said Friday it’s too little, too late to reverse the damage done by the Biden administration.
Renée JeanJanuary 03, 2025
Wyoming Project Gets Boost In Race To Be First For U.S. Rare Earths Production
What could be one of the world’s richest rare earths deposits announced Friday a partnership for a Wyoming pilot plant. It’s a boost for Wyoming to be first in the U.S. to help stand up domestic rare earths production sooner.
Renée JeanDecember 21, 2024
Cluster Of Wind Turbines Sitting Idle Outside Casper Won’t Turn Anytime Soon
A cluster of turbines sitting idle in the December winds outside Casper will remain idle into the next year. Chevron is citing “telemetry issues” with PacificCorp for why they’ve not been used for much of the past few years.
Dale KillingbeckDecember 20, 2024
Barrasso Says Targeting Gas Exports Act Of A “Bitter Administration On Its Way Out”
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso doesn’t like a Tuesday U.S. Department of Energy report calling for fewer exports of liquified natural gas. He calls it “a biased study from a bitter administration on its way out the door.”
David MadisonDecember 19, 2024
Innovative Short Wind Turbines Are In For A Tough Test — Wyoming Winter
Airloom Energy will test its innovative wind turbines in winter — the perfect shakedown for an 80- to 100-foot-tall invention born in Wyoming. The novel Bill Gates-backed concept could make today’s 500-foot-tall wind towers obsolete.
Renée JeanDecember 18, 2024
John Bear Thinks Micro Plants Could Help Wyoming Coal, Create Power Autonomy
State Rep. John Bear is promoting the development of micro coal-fired power plants to serve Wyoming communities across the state. It’s a concept he says could help stabilize coal, attract industry and create power autonomy.
Leo WolfsonDecember 17, 2024
Wyoming Trona Mine Closer To Being Powered By 8 Tiny Nuclear Reactors
Tata Chemicals announced Friday that it has signed a new letter of intent for using up to eight nuclear microreactors to power its Green River trona operation. Tata is the first company in the U.S. to pursue small-scale industrial nuclear power.
Leo WolfsonDecember 13, 2024
Uranium Energy Corp. Finalizes $175M Buyout Of Wyoming Processing Plant
Uranium Energy Corp. has finalized a $175 million buyout of Rio Tinto’s Wyoming assets, which includes its Sweetwater County processing plant. The sale gives Uranium Energy the nation’s largest production capacity of uranium.
Renée JeanDecember 09, 2024
China’s Ban On Rare Earth Exports Good News For Huge Wyoming Projects
China issued a ban Tuesday on exporting to the U.S. critical rare earth minerals for semiconductors, infrared, fiber optics and military explosives. But representatives of Wyoming’s huge rare earths projects say the ban is good news for them.
Renée JeanDecember 04, 2024
Turkish Company Offers $285 Million To Buy Interest In Huge Wyoming Trona Mine
Sisecam, a Turkish company, is offering $285 million to buy out a minority stake in one of Wyoming’s huge new trona mines.
Renée JeanDecember 02, 2024
BLM Outlaws Coal In Powder River Basin; Gordon Says Prepare For A Fight
The BLM has made it official Tuesday — it’s ending new coal leases in the Powder River Basin, with an eye to producing no more coal after 2041. Gov. Mark Gordon says those are fighting words.
Renée JeanNovember 27, 2024
Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower Strikes Deal To Get Laser-Enriched Uranium
Bill Gates-backed TerraPower and the nuclear plant it's building in southwest Wyoming have secured another potential source of uranium. It’s struck a deal to get laser-enriched uranium.
Renée JeanNovember 24, 2024
F.E. Warren Air Force Base Exploring Geothermal Power To Boost Resiliency Against Catastrophe
Cheyenne’s F.E. Warren Air Force Base, which houses the nation’s nuclear missiles, is exploring geothermal energy to build up the military base’s resiliency. Geothermal power could ensure the base is functional, even if the overall power grid goes down.
Renée JeanNovember 23, 2024
14-Year-Old Casper Wind Farm Has Not Turned A Blade In At Least 3 Years
The 11 wind turbines on the northeast side of Casper once represented the region’s first step into renewable energy. Now, some say they are an eyesore that has idled for at least three years.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 20, 2024
Wyoming Coal Jobs Down Nearly 8% Over Last Nine Months, 25% Since 2017
Wyoming’s coal workforce is down nearly 8% over the last nine months. And since 2017, there are 25% fewer people working coal jobs.
Greg JohnsonNovember 20, 2024
Barring “A Miracle,” Wyoming Coal Will Miss 200M Tons For First Time Since 1992
Wyoming is on track to miss producing 200 million tons of coal for the first time since 1992. “Short of a miracle,” that’s what’s going to happen, says one of the nation’s leading energy economists.
Greg JohnsonNovember 17, 2024
Natrona County Planners OK 2,000-Acre Solar Farm West Of Casper
A proposal to put a 2,000-acre solar farm and battery storage facility west of Casper was OK’d by Natrona County Planners on Tuesday. The 199 MW facility with 100 MW of storage would be on private ranch land.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 14, 2024
Enhanced Oil Recovery Is Coming To Wyoming To Unlock Trapped Oil and Gas
Oil and gas wells typically leave behind 85% or so of available resources. Enhanced oil and gas recovery is key to more economical wells, and several companies are eyeing field tests in Wyoming for that.
Renée JeanNovember 12, 2024
More Details Emerge About Blockbuster Anschutz PRB Oil And Gas Deal
Occidental Petroleum has offered more details to Cowboy State Daily about the blockbuster oil and gas deal that has Anschutz acquiring Oxy/Anadarko assets in the PPB. Occidental says it’s keeping 150,000 acres it considers “core."
Renée JeanNovember 07, 2024
Trump Signals Huge Support For Oil & Gas During Victory Speech, Wyoming Industry Leaders Thrilled
It didn’t take long for former President Donald Trump to hype up America's oil and gas industry after he won the 2024 presidential election Tuesday. Wyoming industry leaders say Trump's victory is also a win for U.S. oil and gas.
Renée JeanNovember 06, 2024
Blockbuster Deal Has Anschutz Getting Oxy/Anadarko Oil And Gas Interests In PRB
The Powder River Basin’s largest private oil and gas operator is getting a lot bigger. In a blockbuster deal, Anschutz has sent notices to Powder River Basin operators that it’s acquired the working interests in Oxy/Anadarko in the PRB.
Renée JeanNovember 05, 2024
If Iceland Can Tap Volcano For Energy, Would That Work In Yellowstone?
Scientists will be drilling a 1.3-mile-deep borehole into an active volcano to tap into the potentially limitless energy from the magma underneath Iceland. The same could work in Yellowstone but will likely never happen.
Andrew RossiNovember 03, 2024
Upton’s China-Busting Rare Earths Demonstration Plant Is Officially Underway
Rare Element Resources has already started operations at its rare earths demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming, with what’s known as a “shakedown.” The real shakedown will be perfecting a process that could help break China’s stranglehold on rare earths.
Renée JeanNovember 02, 2024
TerraPower Strikes Deal With South African Company For Steady Uranium Source
A stable source of uranium has been a big question mark for the TerraPower nuclear plant in Kemmerer. The company appears to have answered that question with a new agreement with a South African company.
Renée JeanOctober 31, 2024
$80 Million Bet Says Wyoming Can Unlock Secret To Getting More Oil From "Tight Rocks"
ThermoFisher Scientific is laying a $40 million bet, matched by $40 million from the Legislature, that Wyoming can get more oil from so-called "tight rocks." Squeezing even 1% more from those rocks is worth billions of dollars.
Renée JeanOctober 29, 2024
Construction Underway On Testing Facility At TerraPower’s Wyoming Nuclear Plant Site
Construction is happening in Kemmerer at the site of the future TerraPower nuclear plant site. But it’s not the actual plant that’s being built, it’s a test and fill facility, the first step of many before the plant finally opens in 2030.
Renée JeanOctober 22, 2024
Wyoming Rare Earths Producer Close To Completing $53 Million Processing Plant
Rare Element Resources needs one more thumbs-up from a federal agency to complete its $53 million rare earth demonstration plant in Upton. The rare earth refinery is billed as a game-changer not just for Wyoming, but America.
Renée JeanOctober 21, 2024
Hundreds Of Wyoming Coal Jobs Threatened By Federal Regulation, Legislator Says
A state legislator says the future of a coal mine that employs hundreds of Sheridan County people is threatened by proposed federal regulation. Cyrus Western is worried the feds will cut the Spring Creek mine’s available coal by half because of a proposed revision to an environmental impact statement.
Leo WolfsonOctober 20, 2024
Uranium Energy Corp. To Increase Wyoming Production Capacity To 8.1 Million Pounds
Wyoming has approved a Uranium Energy Corps. application to double capacity at its plant in the Powder River Basin. That gives the company capacity to process 12.1 million pounds of uranium, 8.1 million pounds of which are in Wyoming.
Renée JeanOctober 19, 2024
Huge Wyoming Rare Earth Project Gets $450 Million Loan From Feds
Wyoming Rare (USA) will get more than $450 million in financing for its huge Halleck Creek Project in southeast Wyoming from a federal bank. It’s a loud message that America is serious about rare earth minerals and Wyoming’s potential to supply them.
Renée JeanSeptember 27, 2024
Wyoming’s Tiny 80-Acre Oil And Gas Lease Sale A Bust Waiting To Happen
A miniscule 80 acres sold in Wednesday’s federal oil and gas lease sale in Wyoming. The throttling of oil and gas production has state industry officials worry it’s a bust waiting to happen.
Renée JeanSeptember 27, 2024
Texas-Based Uranium Energy Buys Wyoming Processing Plant For $175 Million
Texas-based Uranium Energy Corp. is making yet another acquisition in Wyoming, snapping up the state’s only conventional uranium mill for $175 million. The move sets it up to be the largest domestic producer of uranium.
Renée JeanSeptember 24, 2024
Biden’s BLM Puts Up 159 Acres For Oil And Gas Lease Sale, Record Low For Wyoming
The 159 acres available in Wednesday’s BLM oil and gas lease sale is a record low for Wyoming. Under the Biden administration, hundreds of thousands of acres have become unavailable.
Renée JeanSeptember 23, 2024
Gordon: Wyoming Can Make Carbon Capture Work If Feds Would Get Out Of The Way
Gov. Mark Gordon and a Campbell County commissioner in the heart of Wyoming coal country said Tuesday that local industry can make carbon capture work. But that won’t happen unless the federal government gets out of the way.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 18, 2024
Judge Gives Wyoming, Other States A Win Against Biden-Harris Methane Rules
A North Dakota judge has ruled for Wyoming and other states suing the BLM over its new methane rules. The Biden-Harris administration have been pushing the new rules as part of their anti-fossil fuels agenda, says Sen. John Barrasso.
Renée JeanSeptember 17, 2024
Judge Puts Massive 5,000-Well Wyoming Oil And Gas Project In Limbo
A massive oil and gas project that calls for up to 5,000 wells in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin is in limbo after a Friday ruling by a federal judge. The decision doesn’t affect existing drilling permits, but blocks future ones.
Renée JeanSeptember 16, 2024
Kemmerer Coal Mine Sold To Southern California Real Estate Company
The Kemmerer, Wyoming, coal mining operation has been quietly sold to a Southern California real estate investment company. No word yet on what the new owner, ECC Capital Corp., wants to do with it.
Pat MaioSeptember 13, 2024
No More Coal Road: Project To Move Highway To Access Kemmerer Coal Stopped
Work has stopped on a $30 million project to move 3 miles U.S. Highway 30 near Kemmerer to access more than 9 million tons of coal. The coal mine's owner blames declining demand.
Pat MaioSeptember 12, 2024
Wyoming Energy Officials Don't Buy Kamala's Claim She's Okay With Fracking
During Tuesday's presidential debate, Kamala Harris doubled down on her new promise not to ban fracking, but energy industry officials in Wyoming and the region don’t buy it.
Pat MaioSeptember 11, 2024
Huge $5 Billion Proposed Trona Mine Set For Review By Wyoming Regulators
Construction on a huge $5 billion trona mining project near Green River, Wyoming, is scheduled to begin in mid-2025. It will employ 2,100 construction workers annually before becoming operational in early 2029.
Pat MaioSeptember 10, 2024
Tri-State Gets $679 Million From Feds For Transition From Coal-Fired Plants
Tri-State Generation has received $679 million from a federal program to boost renewables to support the retirement of coal-fired power plants. Laramie River Station in Wyoming, however, is not set for closure.
Pat MaioSeptember 09, 2024
Former Top Colorado Regulator Predicts A Shakeup For Wyoming Power Co-ops
Raymond Gifford, a former chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, says a shakeup is coming for Wyoming’s power cooperatives. He's also the lawyer helping electricity co-ops leave Tri-State Generation.
Pat MaioSeptember 07, 2024
Wyoming Rare Earth Miner Expands Global Reach, Buys Australian Company
Energy Fuels Inc., which is preparing to ramp up its Nichols Ranch uranium mine near Kaycee, Wyoming, is expanding. It’s close to buying a critical rare earth minerals company in Australia.
Pat MaioSeptember 06, 2024
After Hedge Fund Buys 10% Of Peabody, It Wants Company To Buy Back $1.4B In Stock
At the urging of a hedge fund in Texas that bought nearly 10% of Peabody Energy, the company is accelerating efforts to develop “existing assets.” That includes urging the company to spend $1.46 billion on buying back shares of its stock.
Pat MaioSeptember 05, 2024
Growing Energy Supplier Eyes Larger Toehold In Wyoming's Shifting Power Market
Guzman Energy, a Denver-based wholesale power provider with funding from a Walmart heir, eyes gaining a larger toehold in Wyoming and the Western U.S. Guzman also refutes claims by some critics who worry the company can’t deliver on promises.
Pat MaioSeptember 05, 2024