Powder River Breaks Newsletter, May – June 2024

May – June 2024, Volume 52, Number 3 In May, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will end federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin – the largest coal-producing region in the United States. The decision represents a historic shift in federal management of coal in the region, recognizing environmental and health […]

USDA Announces New Rules to Protect Farmers and Ranchers

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking a significant step towards ensuring fair markets for farmers and ranchers. Today, the USDA announced a proposed rule entitled “​​Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets” which would provide much-needed clarity for courts nationwide, addressing the onerous “proof of harm to competition” standard if finalized. This […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter, March – April 2024

March – April 2024, Volume 52, Number 2 On February 12, the Department of the Interior announced a finalized rule reforming the Bureau of Land Management’s onshore oil and gas leasing program. Readers may recall this rule was proposed last spring. Powder River members engaged diligently throughout the rulemaking process to ensure quick passage and […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter, January – February 2024

January – February 2024, Volume 52, Number 1 Last year, High Plains Power became the third rural electric cooperative, and the largest, to significantly reduce the compensation it provides to customers who generate their own solar electricity. Called net metering, Wyoming law provides that a utility has to credit or compensate a solar owner for […]

Casper Local Foods Expert to Speak in Sheridan March 22

If you have a local food business, or have thought about starting one, plan to attend Growing Your Local Food Business event at the Sheridan County Public Library, Inner Circle Room, on March 22 at noon. Everyone is welcome, but advance registration is appreciated. Casper resident and well-known local foods advocate, LeAnn Miller, better known […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter, November – December 2023

November – December 2023, Volume 51, Number 6 While daily life in the Equality State may feel fraught with policy and cultural disagreements, the Powder River members who gathered in Sheridan on Nov. 4 came together eager for the camaraderie that the annual meeting offers. Since last year’s annual meeting celebrated 50 years of Powder […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter – September-October 2023

September – October 2023, Volume 51, Number 5 Powder River staff and members traveled to Denver, CO in late August to show support for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule. Readers may recall from our previous issue that the rule makes long overdue changes to the onshore […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter – July – August 2023

July – August 2023, Volume 51, Number 4 After more than half a century of waiting, Powder River, the Western Organization of Resource Councils, and allies applaud the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for releasing new rules for federal oil and gas wells. The proposed rules will help ensure that federal wells are plugged and […]

Northern Cheyenne Garden celebration to be held Aug. 31 at Sheridan Food Forest

The public is invited to the Northern Cheyenne Native Plant Traditional Uses & Plant Lore event at the Sheridan Food Forest on Aug. 31 at 5:30 pm. Enrolled members of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and educators from Chief Dull Knife College, Linwood Tall Bull and his son Randall Tall Bull, will share stories and traditional […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter, May – June 2023

May – June 2023, Volume 51, Number 3 In May, Powder River joined with Western Colorado Alliance (WCA) and Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) to advocate for stronger federal onshore oil and gas bonding requirements. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering a rule that would update onshore oil and gas lease sales. […]