Wyoming lost out on 50 million tons of coal production last year because of limited rail capacity. Rail companies say a labor shortage prevented more shipments, but current and retired engineers say if the rail companies treated their people better, there would be no labor shortage.
Wyoming coal mines would have produced about 300 million tons of coal in 2022, but were ultimately about 50 million tons short of that because there weren’t enough trains to ship it out. This translates to $100 million in lost revenue to the state of Wyoming.
The Wyoming Legislature had appropriated $1.2 million for Wyoming to sue other states that have regulations that harm Wyoming’s coal industry. A committee Monday approved a bill allowing the governor more broad authority to spend the money.
Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, is sponsoring a bill that will fund efforts to challenge the early retirement of coal plants.
31497 Keep Reading | 861 words
U.S. coal groups are banding together to push back against further shutdowns of coal-fired power plants. They say the blackouts in Europe and severe energy problems in some parts of the U.S. prove that coal is essential.
A stocking full of coal wasn’t always a bad thing. Back when energy sources weren’t as plentiful, coal was viewed as a positive gift. Then people took it for granted and coal became demonized.
30668 Keep Reading | 962 words
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis urged her senate colleagues on Thursday to vote yes on the House agreement that would force rail worker unions to accept the agreement reached earlier this year.
28231 Keep Reading | 664 words
China has 1,109 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity and is rapidly building more. The U.S. has 196 gigawatts of coal capacity in its entire fleet and the Biden Administration is trying to get rid of all of it.
While a prolonged railroad worker strike would decimate many industries, including Wyoming’s coal mines, it’s unlikely Congress would allow that to happen.
PacifiCorp says that a study released by two environmental groups alleging groundwater contamination at two Wyoming coal plants is misleading and inaccurate.
26943 Keep Reading | 944 words
Peabody Energy, which operates three Powder River Basin thermal coal mines, reported its Wyoming operations were in the black by $38 million as rail shortages eased and power plants built up stockpiles.
26635 Keep Reading | 918 words
As Wyoming’s coal industry declines, many promises have been made about providing support for displaced workers in the industry. After years of being passed over, small gains are being made to address their needs.
Arch Resources posted its third quarter results for fiscal year 2022 on Thursday, which shows its operations in the Powder River Basin did well, but company executives say the long-term outlook is bleak.
The demand for coal has risen and Wyoming coal producers can significantly increase production but they can’t get the trains to carry it. “The market is there if Wyoming could just get it out on trains,” the governor’s office said.
26080 Keep Reading | 947 words
A collection of environmental advocacy groups including the Sierra Club is targeting Wyoming for a perceived lack of enforcement of federal Clean Air Act rules as they pertain to the Jim Bridger Power Plant in Sweetwater County.
Despite claims to the contrary, the climate agreement made in Scotland this month will have little effect on Wyoming or the rest of the country, according to the president of the Wyoming Mining Association.
15088 Keep Reading | 737 words
After years of decline, Wyoming’s coal industry recently saw a bump in production.
12673 Keep Reading | 639 words
New Campbell County Attorney Mitch Damsky is making good on his promise to look into some of the more nefarious dealings by out-of-state coal companies, setting his sights first on former Blackjewel CEO Jeff Hoops.
The decision clears the way for the development of the Brooks Mine, which will provide coal for Ramaco’s research activity and for manufacturing advanced carbon products and materials.
