Last week the Congressional House Sub-Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing focusing on the benefits of Powder River Basin coal production for local communities and national energy security. Campbell County Commissioner Dan Coolidge testified that when he moved to Gillette, he never expected to stay. But, he said he was surprised by the impact of coal tax revenues on quality of life there.
“It’s a wonderful community,” said Coolidge. “Because of the revenue we have there. We’ve got a great school system, we’ve got the ability for all residents of the county to have a good paying job. But also experience the benefits of what local government can provide because of tax revenues. We just completed a 52 million dollar rec center.”
Wyoming Representative Cynthia Lummis, who is on the Committee, has criticized the Obama administration for policies she says hinder the development of coal resources in the U.S.
