Energy
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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
California Grid Operator’s Expansion Into Wyoming Includes Black Hills Energy
The California power operator that manages the flow of electricity across 26,000 miles of high-voltage power lines has added Black Hills Corp. in Wyoming to its system.
Pat MaioSeptember 04, 2024
Wyoming High Court Reverses PSC On Rules For Buying Excess Power From Customers
The Wyoming Supreme Court has reversed a Wyoming Public Service Commission decision about how customers sell their excess green power back to the grid.
Pat MaioSeptember 03, 2024
Giant Wyoming Carbon Capture Project Pulls Plug For Lack Of Clean Power
CarbonCapture had planned to build one of the world’s largest direct air CO2 capture projects in southwest Wyoming. Now it’s pulling the plug because there’s not enough clean power to run it.
Pat MaioSeptember 03, 2024
Wyoming's Electricity Industry On The Cusp Of Transmission Shakeup
The Wyoming Public Service Commission has begun studying how electricity is delivered over hundreds of miles of transmission lines. The outcome could lead to a major shakeup for Wyoming.
Pat MaioAugust 30, 2024
Electricity Co-ops In Wyoming Poised For Savings Through New Grid Operator
A newly forming regional transmission organization in Arkansas is looking to attract members throughout Colorado and Wyoming. That could save members $200 million annually by delivering power more cheaply.
Pat MaioAugust 29, 2024
16 Months After 30 Tons Of Chemical Used In Explosives Vanished, Investigation Continues
The Federal Railroad Administration said Wednesday that it’s still investigating the disappearance of 30 tons of a chemical used in explosives. It was lost from a defective railcar somewhere between Cheyenne and the Mojave Desert in California.
Pat MaioAugust 29, 2024
Hedge Fund Hot To Invest In Wyoming’s Huge Red Desert Uranium Deposits
Canada-based Premier American Uranium announced this week it may have found 8 to 12 million pounds of uranium in Wyoming’s Red Desert. The state’s huge deposits and industry boom are attracting large hedge funds to buy up Wyoming uranium.
Pat MaioAugust 28, 2024
Feds Send $5.5 Million To Wyoming's Richest City To Build EV Charging Stations
The city of Jackson, Wyoming, which is among one of the wealthiest in America, has received $5.5 million from the federal government to expand its network of electric vehicle charging stations.
Pat MaioAugust 27, 2024
Energy Fuels Wants To Use Wyoming Uranium For Cancer Treatments
Energy Fuels, on track to become a key Wyoming uranium producer, is extending its reach for the mineral. The company has expanded into using Wyoming uranium to produce medical isotopes for cancer treatments.
Pat MaioAugust 27, 2024
United Power Growing After Severing Ties With Tri-State Generation
Colorado’s United Power Inc. was the largest Tri-State Generation member until it paid $702 million to break away on its own. Now it’s growing as other Tri-State members watch.
Pat MaioAugust 26, 2024
Arch May Speed Up Sale Of Legacy Wyoming Coal Mines Under $5B Merger
Arch Resources announced a $5 billion merger with Consol Energy on Wednesday. That also may mean speeding up the company’s plans to sell its Wyoming coal mines.
Pat MaioAugust 22, 2024
Huge Shakeup For Wyoming Coal: Arch To Merge, Peabody Sells 10% To Hedge Fund
In a huge shakeup for Wyoming's legacy coal industry, Arch announced a $5 billion merger Wednesday and a hedge fund has bought 10% of Peabody Energy. The companies represent more than half the coal production in the Powder River Basin.
Pat MaioAugust 21, 2024
Why Old Wind Turbine Blades Aren’t Being Buried In Landfills Anymore
Until a few years ago, it was common for old wind turbine blades to be discarded in local landfills. That’s not happening much anymore as landfills require them to be ground up “into really tiny pieces,” which is expensive.
Pat MaioAugust 21, 2024
Another Hedge Fund-Backed Producer Wants To Cash In On Wyoming’s Uranium Boom
Canada-based American Premium Uranium Inc., backed by a New Jersey-based hedge fund, has begun exploratory drilling on mining claims in the Red Desert. It’s part of a rush of companies looking to cash in on Wyoming’s uranium boom.
Pat MaioAugust 19, 2024
Wyoming Turns Down $35 Million From Feds To Clean Up Orphan Wells
Wyoming doesn’t want the federal government’s $35 million to help plug orphan oil and gas wells. The Biden administration’s Interior Department offered $775 million to 21 energy states this week, but the Cowboy State won’t take it.
Pat MaioAugust 15, 2024
U.S. Wind, Solar Produce More Power Than Coal Through July For First Time
For the first seven months of 2024, wind and solar alone produced more electricity than coal in the United States. That's a first, and comes as no surprise in Wyoming, which saw its coal production drop 25% in the first half of the year.
Pat MaioAugust 15, 2024
Dormant For A Decade, Texas-Based Uranium Energy Corp. To Restart In Wyoming
Texas-based Uranium Energy Corp. had mothballed its uranium mining operations in Wyoming nearly a decade ago. It’s now the second major uranium producer in the state to restart mining and processing.
Pat MaioAugust 13, 2024
Wyoming To Lead 17-State Lawsuit Against EPA Over Coal Ash Rules
Wyoming is taking the lead in a 17-state lawsuit against the EPA over is rules on coal ash produced by power plants. The rules will go into effect in November unless stopped.
Pat MaioAugust 12, 2024
Wyoming Rare Earths Companies In Race To Start Producing
The Australian-based American Rare Earths Ltd. has restructured its Wyoming project to attract investment. With Wyoming becoming ground zero for U.S. rare earths, companies are in a race to be the first to start producing.
Pat MaioAugust 12, 2024
Hot Demand For Wyoming Uranium Has Hedge Funds, Other Investors Sniffing Around
Demand for Wyoming uranium has some big hedge funds and other investors sniffing around to buy in. They’re looking for opportunities to buy shares in uranium stocks that mine the ore needed as fuel for nuclear power plants.
Pat MaioAugust 09, 2024
Rural Wyoming Co-ops To Get More Green Power From Colorado-Based Parent Company
Power cooperatives in a number of rural Wyoming communities will be getting more green energy. That’s the result of a major shift in policy and focus for their parent company, Colorado-based Tri-State Generation.
Pat MaioAugust 08, 2024
Harris VP Pick "Horrible For America, Horrible For Wyoming," Wyo Mining Chief Says
As governor, Tim Walz placed his state on track to transition to "clean" energy even faster than California. Wyoming Mining Association President Travis Deti says Kamala Harris' VP pick is "horrible for America and horrible for Wyoming."
Pat MaioAugust 07, 2024
EV Registrations, Sales In Wyoming Grow Despite Big Auto Pullbacks
Electric vehicle sales and registrations are slowly growing in Wyoming, despite automakers pulling back on production. Cheyenne-based Domino’s pizza franchises have been purchasing Chevy Bolts for its delivery fleet and plan to buy more.
Pat MaioAugust 07, 2024
Ramaco Hires Heavy Hitter To Push Production Plant For Wyoming Rare Earths
Ramaco Resources is closer to being able to start mining rare earth minerals in Wyoming. The company announced Tuesday that it’s hired a global engineering firm to push efforts to build a processing plant outside of Sheridan.
Pat MaioAugust 06, 2024
Jack Reacher Author Lee Child Loves His Wyoming Home, But Hates Wind Farm Project
Lee Child, author of the hugely popular Jack Reacher novels, picked up his belongings and escaped the hectic lifestyle of New York City and moved to Tie Siding, Wyoming eight years ago. He loves Wyoming but hates the Rail Tie wind farm project.
Pat MaioAugust 03, 2024
Rocky Mountain Power Wants 14.7% Rate Hike For Wind and Transmission Costs
Rocky Mountain Power announced Friday it’s filed a request for a 14.7% increase in power bills in Wyoming. The rate hike would raise $123.5 million for new high-voltage transmission lines, a wind farm and power plants.
Pat MaioAugust 03, 2024
1.5 Million-Pound Trailers Haul Transformers To Huge New Wyoming Wind Substation
PacifiCorp is using giant, specialized 1.5 million-pound trailers to haul transformers to a new substation near Medicine Bow. The new station will serve Wyoming wind farms generating more than 2,000 megawatts of power.
Pat MaioAugust 02, 2024
Sales Drop 16% For Peabody Energy, Largest Coal Producer In Wyoming And The U.S.
Peabody Energy Corp., the largest coal producer in Wyoming and United States, reported Thursday that it’s second quarter sales are down more than 16%. The company also lowered its expectations for the rest of the year.
Pat MaioAugust 01, 2024
Landfill May Be Next Stop After Lightning Blows Up Turbine Blade Near Cheyenne
A half-shredded blade hanging from a wind turbine west of Cheyenne is catching attention from the thousands of drivers who go past it along Interstate 80. It was nearly torn in half by a bolt of lightning, and its next stop could be a Wyoming landfill.
Pat MaioJuly 30, 2024
Wyoming Budget Could Take Big Hit With Coal Production Down 25%
Wyoming revenue collection is ahead of forecasts, but a freefalling state coal industry could change that quickly. A new state budget report warns the impact of a 25% drop in coal production for the first half of 2024.
Pat MaioJuly 29, 2024
Wyoming-Based Ur-Energy Offers $60M Stock Sale To Grow Uranium Holdings
Casper-based Ur-Energy said Friday that it’s raising $60 million in a public offering of stock to expand its uranium mining footprint, including in Wyoming. “We are preparing our war chest so that we are ready for any opportunities," the CEO told Cowboy State Daily.
Pat MaioJuly 28, 2024
Fight Over $500 Million Rail Tie Wind Farm In Southern Wyoming Far From Over
Deep-pocketed donors who live in the 4,300-acre preserve near Tie Siding, Wyoming, aren’t giving up their fight over the wind farm. They’ve kicked in money for a legal challenge of the controversial $500 million wind farm project.
Pat MaioJuly 27, 2024
Bill Gates-Backed Wyoming Wind Energy Startup Raising Nearly $13 Million
Airloom Energy Inc., a Laramie-based wind energy startup with ties to Bill Gates, is raising nearly $13 million to promote its novel design of wind energy loops that operate horizontally and low to the ground instead of the giant turbines that dot Wyoming's landscape.
Pat MaioJuly 26, 2024
Coal Giant Arch Resources To Keep Shrinking Wyoming ‘Operational Footprint’
Arch Resources, the second largest coal producer in Wyoming, reported Thursday that it plans to keep shrinking its “operational footprint” in Wyoming’s energy-rich Powder River Basin. Its end-goal is the "eventual closure" of its Wyoming mines.
Pat MaioJuly 25, 2024
Wyoming Oil And Gas Drilling Halted On 120,000 Acres By Federal Judge
A federal judge has told the Bureau of Land Management to halt issuing oil and gas drilling permits on 120,000 acres of public land in Wyoming. The ruling is to allow for a review of environmental impacts.
Pat MaioJuly 25, 2024
Coal Production in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin Falls 30%
The collapse in coal production continues out of the state’s energy-rich Powder River Basin in northeastern Wyoming. Second quarter data released Wednesday shows coal production has slipped nearly 30% from the second quarter of 2023
Pat MaioJuly 24, 2024
Wyomingites Frustrated By Biden On Energy Will Hate Harris, Industry Execs Say
Wyomingites frustrated by President Joe Biden’s energy policy will hate Kamala Harris, industry executives say. With Biden bowing out of the presidential election, Harris is now the frontrunner to be the Democratic nominee.
Pat MaioJuly 23, 2024
Clean Energy Startup Has $28 Million To Create Biogas From Wyoming Sugar Beets
A clean energy startup has $28 million to build a facility in the Powder River Basin to turn Wyoming sugar beets into biogas. That includes $13 million announced Monday from a former Texas oilman.
Pat MaioJuly 23, 2024
Wyoming To Study Overhaul Of How Electricity Producers Are Taxed
Wyoming’s Budget Planning Office is hiring a legal consultant to advise a powerful group of legislators on overhauling the state’s electricity taxes. The study could lead to major changes in how taxes are collected from electricity producers.
Pat MaioJuly 19, 2024
Skeptics Disagree With Study That Finds Wyoming Tops In The Nation In Energy Costs
Wyomingites pay more on their energy bills than anyone else in the U.S. and almost twice as much as the second-highest state, according to a new study. But economist and state Sen. Cale Case says the study is critically flawed.
Pat MaioJuly 19, 2024
Virginia Firm Partners With Wyoming To Study Nuclear Fuel Factory Spots
Nuclear technology innovator BWX Technologies on Thursday agreed to work with the Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA) to evaluate requirements on where to build a potential nuclear fuel factory in the state.
Pat MaioJuly 18, 2024
Wyoming Hires Second Powerful Law Firm To Fight Washington's Coal Policies
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has hired another major law firm to fight anti-coal policies from the Environmental Protection Agency. The firm employs former President Trump's former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.
Pat MaioJuly 18, 2024
Casper's Ur-Energy Sees Boost In Uranium Production
According to regulatory filings on Wednesday, Casper-based Ur-Energy is one of the first major uranium mining players in Wyoming to see evidence of stronger demand by electric utilities of its ore, which is needed to power nuclear power plants.
Pat MaioJuly 18, 2024
Ramaco Resources Preparing To Build Plant To Transform Coal
Ramaco Resources is close to starting work on a pilot demonstration plant that will convert coal mined from a Ranchester mine into strategic rare earth minerals. They estimate they'll be pulling up to 2 million tons of coal annually out of the old Brook mine by 2026.
Pat MaioJuly 17, 2024
Mining Company Sees 'Paws-Abilities' In Growing Cat Litter Business
Wyoming's sodium bentonite companies produce over 70% of the world’s supply, with privately held Wyo-Ben going up against larger rivals like Mineral Technologies and Haliburton’s Bentonite Performance.
Pat MaioJuly 16, 2024
Australian Firm Test Drilling On $456 Million Rare Earths Project Near Wheatland
American Rare Earths' mining project near Wheatland, which could have one of the richest rare earths deposits in the world, on Monday said it had begun test drilling.
Pat MaioJuly 15, 2024
No End In Sight For Wyoming’s New Uranium Rush
A rush for producing Wyoming uranium continues with no end in sight. The latest in the mix is an exploration company from Canada that hopes to muscle its way into the state’s Shirley Basin to possibly attract takeover interest.
Pat MaioJuly 11, 2024
Controversial $500M Wind Farm Gets Go-Ahead After Heated Closed-Door Meeting
The controversial $500 million Rail Tie wind farm in Albany County got the go-ahead from Wyoming regulators Wednesday. Things reportedly got heated at times as the developer and activists met behind closed doors for hours.
Pat MaioJuly 10, 2024
BLM May Limit Plan For 600,000 Acres Of CO2 Storage For Wyoming Ammonia Plant
A Wyoming BLM assessment could severely limit a massive 600,000-acre carbon dioxide storage plan. The CO2 storage would be needed to build an industrial-scale coal-to-ammonia plant in southwest Wyoming.
Pat MaioJuly 10, 2024
Spanish Company To Develop Huge Wind Farm North Of Cheyenne
Spanish energy giant Repsol has plans to build a huge 500- to 600-megawatt wind farm northwest of Cheyenne, Cowboy State Daily confirmed Tuesday. It’s the same company that bought the controversial Rail Tie wind project outside of Laramie in the spring.
Pat MaioJuly 09, 2024
In Major Policy Shift, Wyoming Redefines Who Can Bid On State Oil And Gas Leases
Wyoming has changed its rules to discourage environmental groups from attempting to lock up state oil and gas leases. That means the Wyoming Outdoor Council can’t bid in this week's state-run oil and gas lease auction.
Pat MaioJuly 08, 2024
Wyoming Uranium Producer Ramps Up To Meet $100M-Plus Sale To European Buyer
Strata Energy is accelerating its uranium production from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin with plans to ramp up to 2 million pounds annually. The company is expected to double its workforce to sell $88 million to $117 million worth of uranium to a European buyer.
Pat MaioJuly 08, 2024
Oil And Gas Producers Say Outdoors Council Bids Up State Lease Sale To Inflate Costs
Casper-based Kirkwood Cos. Is crying foul after it says the Wyoming Outdoor Council duped the company into paying much more for an oil and gas lease by bidding it up during a state-run sale.
Pat MaioJuly 05, 2024
Road Deal Clears Way To Build Giant 1.2 Million Panel Cheyenne Solar Farm
Enbridge will pick up $12 million of the $14.5 million needed to upgrade a road south of Cheyenne to access its giant 1.2 million panel solar farm south of Cheyenne. The deal clears the way to start construction on the $1.2 billion project.
Pat MaioJuly 05, 2024
Gordon Issues Order To Keep Environmental Activists From Impacting Wyoming Lease Sale
In preparation for next week’s oil and gas lease auction, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has signed an emergency order to help keep environmental activist groups from driving up bids and taking energy-rich leases from developers.
Pat MaioJuly 04, 2024
Kansas Company Planning Gigantic 600,000-Acre Carbon Capture Project In SW Wyoming
A Kansas-based company is moving forward to build a 600,000-acre carbon capture project in underground caverns in Lincoln, Sweetwater and Uinta counties in southwest Wyoming.
Pat MaioJuly 04, 2024
Construction Delays, Inflation Push Back Opening Of $53 Million Upton Rare Earths Plant
Rare Element Resources Ltd. has delayed the July opening of its rare earths plant in Upton, Wyoming. Construction delays and 21% inflation will push the opening back at least two months.
Pat MaioJuly 02, 2024
Energy Giant Files Permit To Build $233 Million Wind Farm Near Glenrock
Virginia-based AES Corp. says it’s going to build a $233.4 million wind farm near Glenrock, Wyoming. They claim it will bring 200 jobs and produce enough electricity to power 44,000 homes.
Pat MaioJuly 02, 2024
Wyoming Oil And Gas Producers Fear Tiny Lease Sales ‘The New Normal’
Thursday’s tiny federal oil and gas lease sale in Wyoming was a throwback to pre-2000 levels, and given the political climate for fossil fuels, state producers fear this may be “the new normal.”
Pat MaioJune 28, 2024
Huge 326,000 Panel Wyoming Solar Farm May Be Delayed Over Road Worries
A huge 326,000 solar panel project in Goshen County may encounter delays in construction because of a recent change in road and bridge permitting requirements and concerns about tearing up local roads.
Pat MaioJune 28, 2024
Wyoming Seeks To Beat China To Become Top Rare Earths Producer
The state of Wyoming is financing rare earths mining projects that could eventually become the largest in the United States. The goal is to loosen China’s grip on the market.
Pat MaioJune 27, 2024
Huge Insurance Bills Don't Stop Solar Projects In Wyoming's Hail Alley
Catastrophic hailstorms haven’t been kind to solar developers, and insurance companies have noticed. Premiums to insure the large solar projects planned for Wyoming's Hail Alley continue to rise.
Pat MaioJune 26, 2024
Legal Mess Ties Up $500 Million Wyoming Wind Farm Project
An influential seven-member industrial siting group in Wyoming plans an early July meeting to sort out a legal mess that could determine the future of the $500 million Rail Tie wind farm development in Albany County.
Pat MaioJune 24, 2024
Military Could Invest In Mining Critical Minerals In Wyoming
The U.S. military has a huge interest in rare earth materials, something Wyoming has an abundance of. For instance, the U.S. Air Force’s F-35 stealth fighter takes 850 pounds of rare earths to build.
Pat MaioJune 23, 2024