Energy

Mike Stephens holds up a photo of the view from his land that will be permiated with wind turbines if a proposed wind project is completed. He sued the state over leasing public land to the company.

Judge Rules For Landowner, Stops Controversial Wind Lease In Converse County

A Converse County district judge has sided with a local rancher and reversed the State Board of Land Commissioners' approval of a wind energy lease. The judge said the project doesn't meet the state's own definition of wind energy leasing because it won't connect to the electrical grid.

David MadisonDecember 06, 2025

Scientists at Idaho National Laboratory, from left, Bill Phillips, Jacob Yingling, and Michael Woods, conducting research for the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment.

Breakthrough: Idaho Lab Produces World’s First Molten Salt Fuel For Nuclear Reactors

Idaho National Laboratory announced a breakthrough this week that it’s created the world’s first molten salt fuel for nuclear reactors. That has Wyoming’s growing nuclear industry excited for its potential use in advanced nuclear power plants.

Kate MeadowsDecember 05, 2025

The USGS estimates 4.7 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas remains in the Mesaverde-Lance formations in southwest Wyoming. Combined with other recent assessments, federal scientists have identified enough undiscovered gas to supply the country for 18 months.

Feds Say Southwest Wyoming Is Sitting On Trillions Of Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas

The USGS estimates 4.7 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas remains under southwest Wyoming. Combined with other recent assessments, federal scientists have identified enough gas to supply the entire country for 18 months.

David MadisonDecember 04, 2025

Rare Element Resources has already started operations at its rare earths demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming.

$60 Million Wyoming Rare Earth Plant To Challenge China Nears Full Operation

Construction of a $60 million state-of-the-art rare earth processing and separation demonstration plant is complete in Upton, Wyoming. It’s expected to be game-changing in America’s efforts to break China’s rare earth stranglehold.

Kate MeadowsDecember 03, 2025

TerraPower’s Kemmerer Nuclear Plant Clears Key Regulatory Hurdle A Month Early

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday gave a favorable safety evaluation for TerraPower’s Natrium nuclear power plant in Kemmerer a month ahead of schedule. TerraPower calls the finding a “momentous occasion."

Renée JeanDecember 02, 2025

Wyoming is seeking an extra $1 million to defend its fossil fuel industries and natural resources. State leaders are also exploring shipping up to 20 million tons of coal a year to Asian markets through a revived Oakland export terminal.

Wyoming Bets Big On Coal Exports To Asian Energy Markets

Gov. Mark Gordon is seeking an extra $1 million to defend its fossil fuel industries and natural resources. State leaders are also exploring shipping up to 20 million tons of coal a year to Asian markets through a revived Oakland export terminal.

David MadisonDecember 02, 2025

Trump's Artificial Intelligence Push Could Turbocharge Wyoming Energy, Research

Trump’s Genesis Mission will link national labs, artificial intelligence and quantum tech to speed up scientific breakthroughs, especially in energy. University of Wyoming and the Idaho National Lab hope to boost nuclear innovation, research, and jobs.

David MadisonNovember 28, 2025

Heavy vehicles stop moving as a timed detonation brings down a wide coal face at the Buckskin Coal Mine in Gillette, Wyoming, in this file photo.

Rollback Of Biden-Era Powder River Basin Energy Leasing Policies Hits Trump's Desk

Trump and congressional allies are undoing Biden-era land and leasing rules to expand coal, oil and gas in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. Opponents say that guts environmental regulations and could leave taxpayers on the hook for huge cleanup costs.

David MadisonNovember 25, 2025

Leaders in Campbell County and Gillette are at odds about a BWXT plan to bring high-tech nuclear fuels manufacturing to town. At the same time, Gov. Mark Gordon is considering a $100 million state grant for the project.

Campbell County At Odds Over Nuclear Project As Gordon Considers $100M For It

Leaders in Campbell County and Gillette are at odds about BWXT's plan to bring high-tech nuclear fuels manufacturing to town. At the same time, Gov. Mark Gordon is considering a $100 million state grant for the project.

David MadisonNovember 24, 2025

Volunteers load up a Clear Creek Wood Bank rack that holds one-seventh of a cord.

The Innovative "Wood Bank" In Buffalo That Provides Free Firewood For People In Need

"The first person who showed up to Buffalo's Clear Creek Wood Bank was missing a leg,” the founder said. “He was in tears. He couldn’t believe we were going to keep his house warm. He was a veteran; he was everything we were trying to achieve.”

Dale KillingbeckNovember 23, 2025

How A Wyoming Startup Is Turning Trash Into Clean Fuel For Cars

Nobody’s driving hydrogen vehicles in Wyoming, but they are catching on in the San Francisco Bay area. That's because a startup based in Pinedale, Wyoming, just cleared final permitting on its process of turning rotting trash into fuel for cars and trucks.

David MadisonNovember 21, 2025

Japan Eyes Wyoming Gas As New Mexico-Mexico Route Opens Export Path

Japan wants Wyoming’s low-carbon natural gas, and new export terminals in Mexico may provide a route for Asian delivery. Policy leaders say demand is rising, and cleaner Rocky Mountain gas could boost U.S. energy exports.

Renée JeanNovember 20, 2025

Amid a flurry of dire accusations, a resolution pushed by Rep. Hageman passed the House on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, potentially opening up more coal leasing in the Powder River Basin.

House Passes Hageman's Bill To Restore Coal Leasing In Powder River Basin

The House narrowly passed a resolution led by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman to restore coal leasing in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin and overturn a Biden-era ban. The measure now heads to the Senate amid sharp debate over energy and climate policy.

David MadisonNovember 19, 2025

It Could Take Months To Pinpoint What Caused Massive Power Outage

It could take months to pinpoint what caused two high-voltage lines to trip near Medicine Bow last week, resulting in an unprecedented blackout for about 100,000 customers of multiple utility companies across Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.

Scott SchwebkeNovember 19, 2025

Campbell County commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, banning the storage of high-level nuclear waste in the county. They say it’s a message that as Wyoming’s nuclear industry grows, Campbell County has no intentions of becoming a nuclear waste dump.

Campbell County’s Nuclear Solution: Ban Storage Of High-Level Waste

Campbell County commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday banning the storage of high-level nuclear waste in the county. They say it’s a message that as Wyoming’s nuclear industry grows, Campbell County has no intentions of becoming a nuclear waste dump.

David MadisonNovember 18, 2025

A night of intensely colorful auroras put on a show over Wyoming and much of the Northern Hemisphere Tuesday night. They were so powerful that even photographers with decades of experience capturing auroras say they were the “best ever” seen in Wyoming.

What Creates The Dazzling Colors Of Auroras Over Wyoming? It's All Elevation

Nearly every color of aurora could be seen as far south as Mexico during last week's "best ever" atmospheric event over Wyoming. What create's those colors? It's all about elevation and a fortunate collision of timing, placement, and intensity.

Andrew RossiNovember 17, 2025

A Fox Business reporter listens with the press pool as Gov. Mark Gordon, from left, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, and Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins talk about the rare earth potential at the Brook Mine near Ranchester, Wyoming, on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Ramaco’s Rare Earth Claims Draw Fierce Scrutiny From Geologists, Short-Sellers

Ramaco’s Brook Mine project in Wyoming, touted as a rare earth bonanza, is drawing fierce scrutiny from geologists and short-sellers. The company stands by its pitch to investors and says criticisms are a smear campaign in search of a payday.

David MadisonNovember 16, 2025

A power substation with wind turbines in the background in Wyoming.

Now That Power Is Back On, Utilities Focus On How Massive Outage Happened

A day after two high-voltage transmission lines were tripped, causing a massing power outage affecting nearly 100,000 customers, the power is back on. Now utilities are focused on how it happened.

Kate MeadowsNovember 14, 2025

The Dave Johnson Power Plant on Thursday afternoon experienced a small fire.

Two Tripped Power Lines Leave Nearly 100,000 Customers In The Dark Across Wyoming

A massive power outage caused by two tripped 500-kilovolt power lines near Medicine Bow left most of northeast Wyoming in the dark Thursday, along with areas in Montana and South Dakota. Nearly 100,000 customers were without power at one point.

Clair McFarland, Greg Johnson & Kate MeadowsNovember 13, 2025

Ur-Energy’s in-situ mining field for uranium at the company's Lost Creek site in the Red Desert of southwest Wyoming. Momentum behind Wyoming’s uranium industry continues to build, with the U.S. Interior Department giving it a boost Friday by officially designating the plentiful resource as a “critical" mineral.

Uranium Listed As ‘Critical’ Mineral, Signaling Boost For Wyoming Mining

Momentum behind Wyoming’s uranium industry continues to build, with the U.S. Interior Department giving it a boost Friday by officially designating the resource as a “critical" mineral.

David MadisonNovember 12, 2025

Spanish energy giant Repsol’s plan for 170 turbines near Horse Creek is dividing Laramie County ranchers. Locals weigh the economic benefits against threats to wildlife, traffic, coveted views and private property rights.

Company Asks Judge To Review Denial Of Wind Project 3 Times The Size Of Cheyenne

Energy giant Repsol filed a court motion Friday asking a judge to review a decision by the Laramie County Commission to deny its proposed wind farm project. The move could open the door for the project — three times the size of Cheyenne — to proceed.

Jackson WalkerNovember 11, 2025

Wind, Solar Projects Should Pay For Harming Wyoming Wildlife, Legislator Says

If wind and solar companies disrupt Wyoming’s wildlife, they should have to pay for it, Wyoming state Sen. Larry Hicks says. He’s sponsored a bill calling for energy companies to pay compensation.

Mark HeinzNovember 08, 2025

Powder River Basin Inches Closer To $50 A Barrel Oil, Unlocking New Potential

One of the key metrics holding Powder River Basin oil and gas back is the cost of producing a barrel of oil. But longer laterals in the play have driven the average cost down to $55 per barrel and closer to $50, which would unlock more production.

Renée JeanNovember 07, 2025

If Wyoming doesn’t start saving water now, it could get dragged into federal court battles over Colorado River water rights, state officials told lawmakers.

Wyoming May Force Water Cuts As Colorado River Crisis Deepens

With tensions building over the dwindling Colorado River water supply, Wyoming needs to make some tough decisions, state officials told lawmakers Thursday. That could include incentivizing farmers and ranchers to cut back irrigation along the Green River.

Mark HeinzNovember 07, 2025

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