Energy | Cowboy State Daily

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

Calif. Gov. Newsom Puts Up Hurdle To Wyoming Coal Moving Through Oakland Port

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Wednesday that adds environmental reviews that will slow progress on a planned coal terminal at the Port of Oakland. Gov. Mark Gordon says Wyoming’s considering “all options” in response, including a legal fight.

Emma Jane JacksonOctober 01, 2026

Barrasso, Lummis Slam Senate Democrats for Sinking Data Center Power Bill

Wyoming’s GOP senators voiced frustration that the Ratepayer Protection Act failed Wednesday because it aimed to make large data centers cover their own electricity costs. “Even AOC and Hakeem Jeffries voted for it in the House,” Barrasso said.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 30, 2026

Inset: Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Macaron taken in Suzhou, China. China’s best-selling EV. Main photo: Welcome to Wyoming sign on Wyoming - Colorado border.

Chinese EVs Are Getting Closer To The U.S., But Would Wyomingites Drive One?

As Chinese EVs head to Canada and President Trump signals openness to domestic production, Wyoming EV owners and industry insiders are mixed on whether they could get traction in the Cowboy State. "It'd have to be a better ride," one Tesla owner says.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 30, 2026

Cheyenne area resident Brian Pixley addresses the City Council about a proposed data center annexation on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. The council approved the 1,260-acre annexation.

Data Center Critics Angry As Cheyenne Council OKs Another Data Center Annexation

Vocal critics of data centers in Cheyenne told the City Council on Monday that many "have totally, completely given up on you." Then council members argued among themselves before approving another 1,260-acre annexation for a data center.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 29, 2026

As Wyoming moves to finally spend nearly $18 million in Biden-era federal money to build fast-charging EV stations, the Trump administration is making clear that it wants the country to move the other way.

As Wyoming Tries Again To Build Out EV Charging Network, Trump Goes The Other Way

As Wyoming moves to finally spend nearly $18 million in federal money to build fast-charging EV stations, the Trump administration is making clear that it wants the country to move the other way. Trump called the Biden-era policy a "backdoor" EV mandate.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 29, 2026

Colorado rancher Scott Saio and his family. A wind project on the Saio ranch, which borders, Wyoming has just been approved.

Ex-Wyoming Family OK'd For Wind Farm Over Objections From Neighbors With Oil Wells

Scott Salo spent years watching neighbors collect oil checks from wells drilled off his ranch just south of the Wyoming line. On Wednesday, commissioners approved a wind project on his land, giving him the first time he had a say in his land's energy future.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 25, 2026

Wyoming Industry Leaders Oppose Reported Trump Plan To Ban Diesel Exports

Wyoming industry leaders and U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis oppose a 90-day ban on diesel exports reportedly proposed by Trump’s White House. Critics fear cutting off the supply could backfire and drive fuel prices even higher.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 24, 2026

Wyoming Consumer Advocate Office Will Fight Rocky Mountain Power's 8.8% Rate Hike

Wyoming's Office of Consumer Advocate on Tuesday said it will fight Rocky Mountain Power's proposed 8.8% rate hike — its third in three years. They say they will recommend a significant reduction or an elimination of the proposed increase altogether.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 22, 2026

Cheyenne City Council to Consider 1,200-Acre Solar Project On Belvoir Ranch

Months after the City of Cheyenne cut the ribbon on its new Belvoir Ranch trail system, the city council is set to consider the addition of a 140-megawatt solar and battery storage project on a different part of the 18,800-acre property.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 22, 2026

Lisa Evers has put yellow caution tape around her property, including the tree where her father's ashes are buried, to prevent Rocky Mountain Power from fire mitigation work.

Casper Mountain Residents Clash Over Rocky Mountain Power Coming Onto Their Land

Casper Mountain residents are clashing over Rocky Mountain Power’s wildfire mitigation work on their land. One refuses to let a subcontractor cut down the pine tree where her father's ashes are buried, but a neighbor is thrilled to see her own trees go.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 22, 2026

Construction on the nuclear reactor for the TerraPower Natrium nuclear plant near Kemmerer, Wyoming, is underway. An advanced nuclear test facility also is taking shape at the site.

TerraPower Is Replacing Lead Contractor On Its Kemmerer Nuclear Plant

TerraPower is replacing the lead construction contractor on the next phase of its Natrium nuclear plant being built near Kemmerer, Wyoming. Mayor Robert Brown said he was surprised by the move, and construction on the first-of-its-kind plant is on track.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 21, 2026

Frontieras and Western Fuels are exploring a coal-to-products facility near Gillette that could employ 200 and be part of a $10 billion network.

Gillette Part Of $10B Plan To Make Products From Coal Instead Of Burning It

Gillette is part of a $10 billion plan to build a network of coal-to-products plants that a pair of companies say will do a lot more things with coal than just burning it. Wyoming is “a natural place to prove coal can be commercialized,” they say.

Renée JeanSeptember 18, 2026

‘I Almost Cried,’ Says Torrington Woman After Power Rates Jump 190% Overnight

Torrington residents are getting sticker shock from their electricity bills, which have jumped nearly 190% seemingly overnight after a change in the town’s power provider. “When I got my bill this last time I almost cried,” said one local woman.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 17, 2026

New Plan For Scaled-Down Laramie Range Wind Project Still Bigger Than Cheyenne

A new plan for a scaled-down version of the Laramie Range Wind Project county commissioners rejected a year ago is still larger than the city of Cheyenne. A rancher says leasing land for the turbines will protect his family’s future.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 16, 2026

Coal trains from Wyomin's Peabody mine are now headed to the Port of Guaymas in Mexico for shipments across the Pacific Ocean to Asia.

'A Huge Step': Wyoming's Largest Coal Mine Finds New Route To Asia Through Mexico

Peabody Energy, Union Pacific, and Mexican rail partner Ferromex have shipped coal from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to the Port of Guaymas, opening a Pacific export route for America's largest coal mine. A mining official calls it "a huge step."

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 16, 2026

A loaded coal train rolls past the Dry Fork Station power plant about 10 miles north of Gillette, Wyoming.

Blockbuster EPA Move Gets Rid Of Biden-Era Limits On Power Plant Emissions

Monday’s blockbuster EPA move to repeal most of the Biden-era limits on power plant emissions removes a federal mandate that impacted coal production in Wyoming. “The war on coal is over,” said EPA regional administrator Cyrus Western.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 14, 2026

Lawmakers Blame Rocky Mountain Power For Large Industries Saying No To Wyoming

Rocky Mountain Power's inability to meet more demand is costing Wyoming large-scale industry, lawmakers say, despite having the land, resources and desire for development. “We don’t have any extra power in Sweetwater County at all," Sen. Stacy Jones said.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 08, 2026

UW Study: Climate Change Made Record Warm Winter ‘Four Times More Likely’

A new study co-authored by a University of Wyoming professor says climate change made this past record warm, dry winter “four times more likely.” Meteorologist Don Day says there was more going on than that, but the study is worth paying attention to.

Andrew RossiSeptember 06, 2026

With other states making aggressive moves to attract nuclear businesses, Carbon County commissioners are asking what Wyoming can do to stay in the game.

Carbon County Exploring Ways To Attract Nuclear Energy Without Building Reactor

With other states making aggressive moves to attract nuclear businesses, Carbon County commissioners are asking what can be done to get their county in the game. At one time, the Rawlins area was a center of uranium mining in the state.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 04, 2026

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with U.S. travel executives in the Oval Office of the White House on September 02, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Wyomingites, Trump Differ On Whether Data Center Foes Will Be ‘Backwards And Poor’

Wyomingites on both sides of the data center issue are taking exception to President Trump's claim that communities opposed to data centers will be "backwards and poor." What fits for one town doesn't necessarily fit for another, an industry leader says.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 03, 2026

Not A Done Deal: Laramie Range Wind Project Gets Permit, But Many Hurdles Remain

The proposed 41,000-acre Laramie Range Wind Project overcame one hurdle with Tuesday's permitting, but many more remain for the 139-turbine proposal on private and state land near Cheyenne -- including meeting 26 conditions not yet made public.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 03, 2026

Platte County commissioners Steve Shockley and Ian Jolovich scrutinize details of a proposal to rezone 5,344 acres of private agricultural land to industrial for a data center.

Platte County Commissioners Push Back, Then OK Industrial Zoning For Data Center

After initially pushing back Wednesday, Platte County commissioners unanimously OK'd a request to rezone 5,344 acres of private ranchland in Goshen Hole for a utility-scale data center and energy complex.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 03, 2026

Genesis Alkali workers underground in its Wyoming trona mine. Inset: A handful of soda ash just as it's coming off the line

Wyoming’s Trona Industry Is Fighting Headwinds From Chinese Market Flooding

Wyoming’s trona industry is trying to fight back against China’s cheap synthetic soda ash flooding world markets, but leaders don't see immediate help. “The only reason China can compete with us is their government gives them subsidies,” one insider said.

Renée JeanSeptember 02, 2026