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Wyoming Energy Leaders Call New Federal Permitting Reform Bill A ‘Game Changer’

Sens. Barrasso and Lummis voted to advance a permitting overhaul that supporters say would cut years of federal red tape for Wyoming energy projects. "This is a game changer for Wyoming," said Ryan McConnaughey, of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 12, 2026

A citizen effort to overturn a massive annexation in southeast Cheyenne has failed after city officials determined a petition fell more than 900 signatures short of the threshold needed to trigger a referendum.

Petition To Stop Cheyenne Data Center Falls Short, But Legal Fight Isn't Over

A petition to put Cheyenne’s 3,460-acre Microsoft data center annexation to a vote fell short by more than 900 signatures, city officials said. An organizer cited Frontier Days and a tight 20-day deadline, and said the next fight will be in court.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 11, 2026

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Barrasso Blames China For Trona Layoffs: “The Cause Is Clear: It's Communist China”

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. John Barrasso called WE Soda’s layoff announcement of 350 jobs a "devastating blow" and pointed the finger overseas for the industry downturn. “The cause is clear: it's Communist China,” he said.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 10, 2026

Hundreds of people lined the road to the WE Soda trona plant outside Green River on Monday, pleading for the families of the 350 workers who will be laid off.

Hundreds Rally Along Roadway For Sweetwater County WE Soda Workers

Hundreds of people lined the road to the WE Soda trona plant outside Green River on Monday, pleading for the families of the 350 workers who will be laid off. “You don’t know the man you hurt, but I do. He’s my daddy!” read a sign held by a little girl.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 09, 2026

One of the world's most prolific gold prospectors sees an area near Encampment as having the potential for his company's next big strike.

World's Most Prolific Gold Prospector Seeking Next Big Strike Near Encampment

Bill Threlkeld, with Seabridge Gold, added more than 100 million ounces of gold to Seabridge’s portfolio over a 27-year tenure there. Now the career gold digger has his sights set on Encampment, Wyoming, as Seabridge's next big gold strike in the world.

Renée JeanNovember 07, 2026

Data center (stock)

Why A Gillette Woman Changed Her Mind About Having Data Centers As Her Neighbor

A Gillette woman attended a Campbell County Commission meeting Wednesday expecting to oppose having data centers as a neighbor. Instead, Peabody Energy’s vision for mine-mouth power, housing and green space won her over. “They have a good plan,” she says.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 06, 2026

Sweetwater County mom Bree McMullan said she's bracing for having vital medical care for her children cut off, but said her bigger fear is what 350 WE Soda layoffs announced Wednesday will do to her neighbors. “These are the families that are going to be struggling,” she said.

Sweetwater County Family Depended On WE Soda Mine Job, Now Layoffs Loom

While one Sweetwater County mom braces for having vital medical care for her children cut off, her bigger fear is what 350 WE Soda layoffs announced Wednesday will do to her neighbors. “These are the families that are going to be struggling,” she says.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 06, 2026

Tech giants are pouring billions into Cheyenne data centers as Wall Street warns the AI bubble could burst. “There is no plan,” said one City Council member while warning the city could be left with huge empty buildings if the AI tech industry collapses.

‘There Is No Plan’: Could Cheyenne Become A Tech Ghost Town If AI Bubble Bursts?

Tech giants are pouring billions into Cheyenne data centers as Wall Street warns the AI bubble could burst. “There is no plan,” said one City Council member while warning the city could be left with huge empty buildings if the AI tech industry collapses.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 04, 2026

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Wyoming Regulators Launch Investigation Into Rocky Mountain Power

The Wyoming Public Service Commission launched an investigation last week into Rocky Mountain Power and whether the utility has been fair to its industrial customers. “Unnecessarily burdensome and punitive,” is how RMP's president described the probe.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 03, 2026

In 2009, Texas billionaire Russell Gordy asked the state for a massive land swap he said was meant to keep wind turbines off a Natrona County mountain. Now his ranch says a huge data center is still on the way, even though the developer walked away.

Natrona County Data Center’s Billionaire Landowner Once Fought Against Turbines

In 2009, Texas billionaire Russell Gordy asked the state for a massive land swap he said was meant to keep wind turbines off a Natrona County mountain. Now his ranch says a huge data center is still on the way, even though the developer walked away.

Emma Jane JacksonNovember 03, 2026

Components for the steam generator system for the Natrium nuclear power plant in Kemmerer.

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 Hyperscale has abandoned plans for a massive data center spanning Natrona and Converse counties.

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

Retired Kemmerer miner Dick Borino described the town's coal mine as "one of the better places to work."

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

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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

Long rail cars haul coal out of the Powder River Basin in Wyoming.

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

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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

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.

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

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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 founder Bill Gates, second from left, with Gov. Mark Gordon at the TerraPower nuclear power plant site near Kemmerer on Thursday, Oct. 15, 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

An aerial view of the Meta data center being built in south Cheyenne.

'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

An illegal controlled burn in Weston County on Tuesday included a large pile of household trash, old construction materials and other junk. Three fire engines, two water tenders, a bulldozer and a command unit responded, along with a Weston County sheriff's deputy, a contracted mini excavator from Farnsworth Services and crews from Powder River Energy.

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

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.

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’s plans for how to house 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.

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

Residents of a neighborhood in Rock Springs are struggling to get to their homes while workers pound and blast to fill abandoned coal mines under the streets.

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

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