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Is AI Safe Enough To Develop Nuclear Power? Wyoming Is About To Find Out
AI is speeding up the work on Wyoming’s next-generation nuclear power plants, including TerraPower's Natrium plant in Kemmerer. “We’re using AI itself to check our plans, check our designs,” said Bill Gates during a visit to the site this month.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 30, 2026
Prometheus Abruptly Drops Natrona Data Center Plan, Eyes New Wyoming Locations
Prometheus Hyperscale has abandoned plans for a massive data center spanning Natrona and Converse counties, blindsiding officials even as its multibillion-dollar southwest Wyoming project moves ahead. "That was kind of a shock," a commissioner said.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 28, 2026
Kemmerer Residents Hope For A ‘Hail Mary’ To Save Coal Mine From Closure
As Kemmerer’s coal mine faces a 2029 shutdown and a looming hit to local tax revenues, community leaders are holding out hope for a late-stage turnaround. “We’ve still got lots of good coal out there,” the mayor says. A retired miner isn't so sure.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 27, 2026
Massive 650-Megawatt Laramie Wind Project Gets State OK
Wyoming regulators have officially signed off on the 650-megawatt Laramie Range Wind Project near Cheyenne. The developer still faces 26 strict new conditions, including a 2.5-mile residential setback, and is reworking its plan for the 139-turbine site.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 27, 2026
Could Data Centers Save Wyoming Coal? Peabody Eyes 'Holy Grail' Strategy
Facing steep production drops, Peabody Energy is exploring plans to build mine-mouth power plants for energy-hungry data centers in the Powder River Basin. “It would be one of these holy grail situations in Wyoming,” one county commissioner says.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 23, 2026
Campbell County Moves $500 Million Nuclear Fuel Facility Closer To Reality
Campbell County approved a one-year access agreement Wednesday letting BWXT conduct ground, water and wildlife studies at Pronghorn Industrial Park for a planned $500 million nuclear fuel manufacturing facility. The 1 million square foot plant could cover the site's entire 247 acres.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 21, 2026
Cheyenne Eyed For First World-Scale Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant In The Region
American Fertilizer is pitching a massive "world-scale" nitrogen fertilizer plant outside of Cheyenne. Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins calls the prospect "an exciting opportunity." “From what they told me, it’s a multi-billion-dollar facility," he said.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 21, 2026
Gillette Targeted For Massive $575 Million Uranium Processing Plant
A Canadian uranium processing company is eyeing Gillette for a massive $575 million facility with the goal of helping to transform northeastern Wyoming into a nuclear manufacturing center. “These people are playing with fire," one skeptic said.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 21, 2026
TerraPower CEO Says Kemmerer Nuclear Plant Will Attract Data Centers
TerraPower’s CEO says the company’s first-of-its-kind advanced nuclear power plant being built near Kemmerer will attract data centers. The CEO, along with billionaire founder Bill Gates, was in Wyoming on Thursday to see the project's progress.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 16, 2026
'Bone Just Dangling': OSHA Investigates Gruesome Injury At Meta’s Cheyenne Data Center
OSHA confirmed Thursday it investigated a gruesome workplace injury at Meta’s Cheyenne data center project last week. A worker said a colleague of his was run over by a lift twice. “The bone was sticking up the side of the leg; it was just dangling there."
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 15, 2026
Illegal Weston County Controlled Burn Threatens High-Voltage Power Lines
An illegal controlled burn beneath a high-voltage power line in Weston County on Tuesday took firefighters eight hours to put out. Fire officials say the heat could have damaged the line, while smoke and flames created a potential electrocution hazard.
Kate MeadowsOctober 14, 2026
Developer Pauses Permit For Controversial 41,200-Acre Laramie Range Wind Project
Facing a deadline and county vote, ConnectGen has paused its permit application for the 41,200-acre Laramie Range Wind Project near Cheyenne. Laramie County officials say the move is rare for a large energy project.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 13, 2026
Kemmerer Plans For 1,600 Nuclear Plant Workers In Limbo After Contractor Backs Out
Kemmerer’s plans for housing an estimated 1,600 nuclear plant workers are in limbo in the wake of TerraPower’s lead contractor backing out. The city isn’t stopping, however, approving Monday another potential housing site for temporary workers.
Kate MeadowsOctober 13, 2026
Rock Springs Residents Fed Up With Pounding And Drilling To Fill Mines Under Homes
For the past five months, Kelly Lovell says she's been living in a war zone. Her street in Rock Springs has been overtaken by drilling rigs and heavy construction equipment in an effort to stabilize the ground built over abandoned underground coal mines.
Kate MeadowsOctober 13, 2026
‘Mind-Boggling’: With No Zoning, Fremont County In The Dark On $66B Data Center Plan
With no zoning regulations, Fremont County is in the dark about a potential $66 billion data center plan and has little say in how it might take shape. “It’s mind boggling ... we can’t have any involvement," said a commissioner.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 08, 2026
Feds Won’t Make Jackson Pay $3 Million Bill For Failed Electric Bus Rollout
After the company that supplied Jackson with eight unrepairable electric START buses went bankrupt, federal regulators won’t make the town pay the $3 million it owes for them. “We parked them because we saw the writing on the wall,” said START's director.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 08, 2026
Crook County Needs Only Five Minutes To OK 2,100-Panel Moorcroft Solar Project
A 2,100-panel Powder River Energy solar project got a quick, five-minute approval from Crook County commissioners Wednesday, despite upfront opposition. Company officials “all live here, so they’ve got to deal with this also,” said a commissioner.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 08, 2026
Cheyenne Residents Say 16-Mile Power Line From Colorado Wind Farm Will Ruin Area
Some south Cheyenne residents are speaking out against a proposed 16-mile power line from a Colorado wind farm they say will ruin their neighborhood. Laramie County commissioners say interstate rules mean they can't do anything to stop it.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 08, 2026
Tribal Data Center Study Had 'A Lot Of Options', But Community Said No Thanks
A Wind River Reservation study proved a small data center could work, a tribal business leader says, but the community remains resistant at a time when other tribes have banned them. One tribal member equated data centers to the Standing Rock pipeline.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 06, 2026
‘Nothing Good About It’: Neighbors Don't Want Rural Power Plant North Of Cheyenne
A planned Black Hills Energy gas-fired power plant north of Cheyenne is still years away from construction, but its potential neighbors aren’t waiting to voice their opposition of it. “There’s just nothing good about it,” said one about the proposal.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 05, 2026
5,000-Gallon Oil Spill Near Riverton Mostly Contained, Cause Still Unknown
A pipeline leak that spilled more than 5,000 gallons of crude onto public land near Riverton has been contained, but how it happened and how long the oil flowed remain unanswered. Pipeline officials say crews worked all weekend to clean up the area.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 05, 2026
1,289-Year-Old Whitebark Pine — World's Oldest — Found In Grand Teton, But It Was Dead
Two University of Wyoming scientists were excited and dejected after discovering the world's oldest whitebark pine in Grand Teton National Park recently. That's because the 1,289-year-old tree had died in 2021. “Every tree has its limit," said a UW researcher.
Andrew RossiOctober 03, 2026
Torrington To Decide Whether To Have Residents Pay $800,000 Electricity Spike
The Torrington City Council will decide Tuesday whether to pass along an $800,000 spike in electricity costs to residents or pay for it from an emergency fund. “They’re telling us it’s on us," says a business owner whose power bills have doubled.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 02, 2026
Forget 8.8% Increase — Watchdog Group Tells Rocky Mountain Power To Lower Rate
Wyoming’s Office of Consumer Advocate is telling regulators that consumers should be paying less for electricity instead of accepting an 8.8% price increase. "We look to make sure they don’t get a dollar more than they are entitled to," a spokesman said.
Emma Jane JacksonOctober 01, 2026