Groups challenge massive Wyoming drilling, fracking project on behalf of wildlife and communities

Conservation groups have filed a legal challenge targeting the Converse County Oil &  Gas Project in the southern Powder River Basin of  Wyoming. The massive 5,000 oil well project , approved under the Trump administration, is projected to have a major impact in air quality locally and regionally, including in treasured landscapes of neighboring national […]

Court rejects Wyoming, industry challenge to postponement of oil, gas lease sales

A federal judge in Wyoming affirmed the Biden administration’s decisions to postpone oil and gas lease sales in early 2021, holding that the federal government has broad authority to postpone sales to address environmental concerns. In his ruling Friday, U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl rejected arguments by industry and Wyoming and found that the Bureau […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter May – June 2022

May – June 2022, Volume 50, Number 3 On June 13, energy experts from Crossborder Energy released a new report analyzing the benefits and costs of rooftop solar in Wyoming, from the perspective of utilities and their customers. Powder River hosted the experts to present their findings in a webinar, Rooftop Solar in Wyoming: Analyzing […]

Powder River Statement on Federal Oil & Gas Leasing Reform Announcement

“We appreciate Interior’s efforts to adjust the federal oil and gas leasing program, as reflected in their recent announcement of resumed lease sales. The agency, in light of the recent rapid rise in oil prices, is finally beginning to modernize policies of great importance to our economic and social future. It’s high time to halt […]

Powder River Breaks Newsletter November – December 2021

November-December 2021, Volume 49, Number 6 For the second year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Powder River held the Annual Meeting online via Zoom on Nov. 5 – 6. Unlike last year when we decided to forego the speaker and hold only the business meeting, we brought back the keynote speaker event. On the evening […]

BLM’s Coal Program Review Lacks Solutions

In response to the BLM’s comment summary report on the federal coal program review released in late December, western grassroots organizations voice the need for prompt and long overdue action to improve the process of federal coal leasing and mining beyond just the acknowledgement of a broken system. Bob LeResche, a Board Member of Powder […]

Powder River Statement on DOI Federal Oil & Gas Report

The following is a statement from Powder River Board member Bob LeResche on the Department of the Interior’s report on the federal oil and gas program, which was released on Friday. “While we appreciate Interior’s intentions to reform the federal oil and gas program, we hoped they would suggest more specifics. We believe more sweeping […]

Powder River’s 2021 Annual Report

This is Powder River Basin Resource Council’s 2021 Annual Report. To read the full report, please download the PDF.

Powder River Breaks Newsletter September-October 2021

September – October 2021, Volume 49, Number 5 On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5 – 6, Powder River will host its 49th Annual Meeting online. This year’s theme, Reimagining Wyoming: Buffalo, Sustainability & Transformation, will explore how buffalo can be part of the solution as the state adapts to a rapidly changing economy. Jason Baldes, […]

Powder River Statement on Interior Federal Coal Program Review

“Review of the federal coal program is sorely needed and long overdue. As the coal market continues its decline, the American public, mining states, and coal communities deserve a fair return from federal coal. Leasing should match real market demand and minimize impacts on our air, land, water, and agriculture and to other economic activity […]