Powder River Statement on Wyoming Nuclear Facility Announcement
“While we support efforts to reduce carbon emissions, we have many questions surrounding Governor Gordon’s proposal to build a small nuclear reactor in Wyoming. This technology is still experimental and unproven; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has yet to license a design, so this announcement appears to be premature. Additionally, we have concerns about the cost […]
Powder River Breaks Newsletter March – April 2021
March – April 2021, Volume 49, Number 2 Wyoming’s dependence on coal means that the entire economy is in transition as markets shift to cheaper and cleaner sources of energy. Finding grassroots solutions to this reality has been Powder River Basin Resource Council’s work for some time. Last spring, we launched our Reclaiming and Growing […]
Reclaiming & Growing Wyoming’s Future webinar series continues May 18
Tools for Tough Times During Wyoming’s Energy Transition On Tuesday, May 18 Powder River Basin Resource Council will continue its spring webinar series, Reclaiming & Growing Wyoming’s Future, by helping families changing jobs and careers become more aware of the tools and resources available to them, including the benefits of being proactive about family finances […]
Powder River Statement on Arch’s Plans for PRB Mines
“Arch Resources has reaffirmed their commitment to closing their coal mines in the Powder River Basin. The company plans to end production at Coal Creek by the end of the year and is also working to reduce operations at Black Thunder. We again call on the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to review the […]
Conservation Groups Move to Defend Federal Leasing Pause
This week Powder River Basin Resource Council joined a broad coalition of conservation and tribal groups filing motions to intervene to defend the Department of Interior’s pause on federal oil and gas leasing pending the agency’s comprehensive review of the program. With this action, the groups seek to defend the leasing pause against two lawsuits […]
Reclaiming & Growing Wyoming’s Future webinar series starts April 27
Family Resources for a Changing Wyoming Workforce On Tuesday, April 27 Powder River Basin Resource Council will kick off its spring webinar series, Reclaiming & Growing Wyoming’s Future, exploring the resources available to Wyoming families in order to make the changing workforce easier to navigate. Speakers will share the many resources and opportunities available for […]
Powder River Statement on Coal Creek Mine Closure Announcement
In response to Arch Resources’ announcement to close the Coal Creek Mine, Powder River Basin Resource Council’s Chair Marcia Westkott had this statement: “We remain concerned that the reclamation plan is not aligned with the closure date of the mine, and we call on our regulators to ensure timely and effective reclamation at the mine. […]
Lessons from History: Wyoming’s 30 Years of Failed Coal Upgrading Projects
This report traces the state’s legacy of coal upgrading projects from the 1980s to the present. The Resource Council researched sixteen different public and private projects that were attempted during the past thirty years and found that only one successfully created a marketable product. The report offers the fifteen failed projects as evidence that the […]
Powder River Breaks Newsletter January – February 2021
January – February 2021, Volume 49, Number 1 In an effort to demonstrate widespread concern about air quality related to oil and gas development in Laramie County, Cheyenne Area Landowners Coalition (CALC), an affiliate of Powder River, teamed up with Earthworks’ Community Empowerment Project to film several leaking wells with state-of-the-art infrared cameras. The organizations […]
ESM & Interior Reach Troubling Deal on Unpaid Royalties in Blackjewel Bankruptcy
On Friday, Feb. 19, the Department of Interior, Eagle Specialty Materials (ESM), and the attorneys in Blackjewel’s bankruptcy case released a settlement agreement for unpaid royalties on federal coal leases mined by Blackjewel, and its predecessor, Contura, at the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. According to the legal filing, […]
