coal

The state may soon have more than a million dollars to put toward any future litigation revolving around coal – an industry that is facing uphill battles nationally to stay alive.

The Fort Union Industrial Park northeast of Gillette will host the soon-to-be constructed facility, which is owned by Atlas Carbon and seeks to produce products, such as bricks and construction materials, made from Powder River Basin coal. Other stakeholders include the UK-based engineering and consulting company Wood, University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources, and Polaris Asset Corporation.

President Biden recently signed into law a bill that could shape the future of energy in states like Wyoming, and so far it is polarizing amongst energy leaders in the state. The Inflation Reduction Act is a dense 750 pages. It addresses everything from health care to taxes to climate and energy, which for Wyoming as the energy state, the latter is a main point of focus.

Office and lab spaces are available at the site for use in research and development. The University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources will also have a presence at the facility. Earlier discussions between businesses and local officials indicated that there was a need for facilities that could host projects on a larger scale than what could be housed in research and development labs.

Representatives from Navajo Nation, Appalachia and Wyoming held a meeting Tuesday to ask President Biden to appoint a director for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). The federal office oversees standards for mining site clean up and has sat empty for one and a half years.

The Wyoming State Geological Survey published a report that shows waters at certain depths near the Wind River and Bighorn basins are not fit for human and agriculture use; however, the research indicates the water could be used in the extractive industries.

The Wyoming Senate gave initial support to a bill that would reduce coal taxes by half a percent.

The decision has brought heated criticism from conservation, environmental, and tribal organizations, who are challenging the BLM's ruling in court, but has been applauded by the coal industry.

While the pandemic has boosted coal production figures, an increase that is likely to continue in 2022, experts say the downward trend will only continue once markets normalize from economic recoveries and other energy sources further challenge the industry.

A U.S. Department of Energy-funded initiative, CarbonSAFE projects are being conducted at several locations nationwide. The project at the Dry Fork Station in Campbell County is nearing completion and is sponsored by Basin Electric and the State of Wyoming.