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Despite a looming 2030 deadline to dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, PacifiCorp has ditched plans to invest big in wind and solar. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Pacificorp throws a lifeline to Wyoming coal and natural gas industry

PacifiCorp's updated energy roadmap throws a lifeline to Wyoming's coal industry but critics said the new Integrated Resource Plan is a major setback …

Most of the USDA produce samples tested in this year's Dirty Dozen list from the Environmental Working Group were within the legal allowance for chemical pesticide residue. (Adobe Stock)

2024 Dirty Dozen lists produce packed with chemical pesticides

Nonorganic fruits and vegetables are loaded with chemical pesticides, including fungicides which can harm male reproductive systems, according to the …

Initial cost estimates for adding controversial carbon capture technology to existing power plants range from $500 million to $1 billion per single coal-burning unit. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming’s coal use mandate raising ratepayer utility bills

Starting this month, 145,000 Wyoming ratepayers will make a down payment on what's projected to add up to billions of dollars in additional costs…

The world's leading scientists have warned that fossil fuel emissions must be cut by 45% by 2030, and phased out entirely by 2050, to avert catastrophic impacts of a changing climate. (Adobe Stock)

BLM Proposal Continues New Oil and Gas Leasing on Public Lands

July was the hottest month in recorded history, but critics of the Bureau of Land Management's new oil and gas rules warned the proposal ignores the …

The EPA admits its new standards for air pollution at power plants could bring small increases in utility bills, but projects the plan would bring a total of $85 billion in climate and health savings. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Standards Seen as Attack on Coal-Fired Power Plants

The Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to cut pollution from power plants not already set to retire by 90% by 2030 is the most ambitious in ov…

In 2011, coal produced 44% of all electricity in the United States. In 2022, it produced just 20% and is projected to drop to 10% or less by 2030. (Creativenature.nl/Adobe Stock)

Report: Half of Nation’s Coal Power Units to Retire by 2026

The U.S. is projected to retire half of its coal-fired power units by 2026, just 15 years after coal use for electricity reached its peak in 2011…

Just 18% of premature deaths from air pollution from coal-fired power plants occur in the states where facilities are located. (Tomas/Adobe Stock)

Report Counts Deadly Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Thousands of lives are cut short every year because of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Wyoming and across the United States, according …

Just 47% of Wyoming residents prefer leaders place more emphasis on protecting water, air, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities over maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Conservation Efforts, Environmental Priorities Remain High in Wyoming

Voters in Wyoming and across the West strongly support protecting water supplies, public lands and migration corridors for wildlife, according to the …

Leading scientists warn the next decade is critical to averting the worst impacts of the climate crisis by transforming economies to run entirely on clean energy. (Adobe Stock)

Utilities' Plans Called Out of Sync with Clean-Energy Transition Demands

Pacificorp delivers energy to 140,000 Wyoming households, but it received a "D" grade in a new report sounding the alarm over utility companies' …

Wyoming to Receive $25 Million for Orphan Wells Under Infrastructure Bill

President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to bring more than 300 jobs to Wyoming to clean up and plug so-cal…

According to a 2021 study, 90% of coal must remain unextracted to keep global temperatures at levels considered safe by leading scientists. (Adobe Stock)

Court Ruling Adds to Challenges Facing Wyoming Coal Industry

A federal court's decision to require the Department of Interior to consider the potential health and climate impacts of coal mining on public lands c…

The latest report from leading climate scientists warned that greenhouse-gas emissions need to peak within three years, and then start going down, in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Climate Summit in Lander Aims to Boost Awareness, Engagement

Wyomingites concerned about bigger and more frequent wildfires, prolonged drought, threats to clean air, water and wildlife can explore ways to …

Low-producing wells waste enough gas each year to meet the energy needs of more than 3.6 million homes in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Reducing Methane Pollution Seen as Potential Revenue Source

Smaller wells account for just 6% of the nation's oil and gas production but are responsible for half of all methane pollution in the U.S., according …

PacifiCorp's Jim Bridger Power Plant, southeast of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, is Wyoming's number one polluter and the nation's third biggest source of haze pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Promise Lawsuit Against EPA Over Lack of Air-Pollution Enforcement

Environmental groups filed a notice of intent this week to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over the agency's failure to enforce the …

Scientists say the primary cause of rapidly increasing extinction rates is due to habitat loss caused by human activity, with climate change an increasingly potent accelerant. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 6th Mass Extinction Event Likely Already Under Way

New research suggests Earth's Sixth Mass Extinction event, on par with the one that ended the age of dinosaurs, already is under way. Noah Greenwald…

Between 2010 and 2019, taxpayers lost out on $12.4 billion in revenue from drilling on public lands. (Adobe Stock)

Conservatives Call for Oil and Gas Reforms on Public Lands

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The Build Back Better Act making its way through Congress includes reforms for oil and gas production on public lands first …

In a new poll, 71% of all registered voters support strengthening rules to reduce oil and gas methane pollution, including 73% of Independents and 50% of Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Voters Want Methane Rules to Include Smaller Wells

CASPER, Wyo. - A strong majority of voters across party lines say they want national rules similar to those passed in Wyoming to reduce methane …

During the Trump administration, oil and gas companies acquired more than 7,000 federal drilling permits and stockpiled more than 13 million acres of oil and gas leases on public lands. (Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr)

Legal Battle Expands Over Oil/Gas Lease Pause

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- A legal battle is unfolding over the Biden administration's pause on oil and gas lease sales on public lands. Wyoming and industry …

The Safe Drinking Water Act prohibits the injection of oil and gas wastewater into potential drinking water supplies. (Rawpixel/Pxhere)

Conservation Groups Challenge Aethon Wastewater Waiver

SHOSHONI, Wyo. -- Conservation groups are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to reject Aethon Energy's plans to inject up to 30,000 barrels …

States that expanded Medicaid coverage have seen improved rates for colorectal, prostate and cervical cancer screenings compared with non-expansion states. (Pixabay)

Advocates: Medicaid Expansion Would Benefit Cancer Patients

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Senate has until Wednesday to advance the Medical Treatment Opportunity Act, which cleared the House last week…

If House Bill 11 becomes law, oil and gas producers would be able to claim severance-tax exemptions when prices are low, and high. (Arek Socha/Pixabay)

Critics Warn: Cutting Oil/Gas Tax Won't Increase Production

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming lawmakers are considering a bill that would cut severance taxes paid by oil and gas companies from 6% to 3%. Proponents …

Industry groups warn banning new oil and gas leases on public lands will cause significant drops in state tax revenues in Wyoming and seven other western states, and lead to the loss of more than 55,000 jobs. (Snappy Goat/Pixabay)

Industry Pushes Back on Biden's Oil and Gas Lease Moratorium

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The Western Energy Alliance sued to block the Biden administration's moratorium on new oil and gas leases on public lands, but …

More than eight in 10 Americans surveyed support creating a jobs program that would hire unemployed coal workers to safely close down old coal mines and restore the natural landscape. (TripodStories-AB/Pixabay)

PacifiCorp Decision May Spur 'Just Transition' for Coal Workers, Communities

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. -- All eyes will be on the Wyoming Public Service Commission this week as PacifiCorp is expected to announce earlier closing dates …

Sage grouse populations have continued to decline in Wyoming. The 2020 lek count of some 19,000 birds is less than half of the lek count of over 43,000 recorded just four years ago. (Picasa/Flickr)

Converse County Oil-Gas Project Could Be Headed to Court

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Conservation groups may take the federal Bureau of Land Management to court after the agency announced its final decision on the …

Gillette has invested $200 million in a 42-mile pipeline to tap the Madison Aquifer, which is expected to supply drinking water to the city's 32,000 residents. (Vasiliymeshko/Wikimedia Commons)

Conservation Groups Decry Trump Admin's 11th-Hour Oil, Gas Moves

This article was updated with corrections on Dec. 31, 2020. GILLETTE, Wyo. -- Conservation groups are sounding the alarm as the Trump administration …

Smoke from wildfires can cause inflammation, irritate the lungs and affect the immune system. (Pixabay)

Wildfire Smoke May Increase Risk of COVID-19 Infection

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wildfires are becoming more common and severe due to climate change and its warmer and drier conditions, in Wyoming and across the …

Japan, the primary potential buyer of Wyoming coal exports, plans to retire most of its coal fleet in favor of cheaper renewable energy and natural gas. (Jwvein/Pixabay)

WY Governor Pressed to Invest in Communities, Not Coal Exports

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Conservation groups are challenging Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon to invest $1 million to help impacted communities that depend on coal …

Most of Wyoming's solar energy currently comes from the Sweetwater Solar farm, which went online in 2018. (Wikimedia Commons)

Wyoming Voters Support Sustainable Energy

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Support for renewable energy in the U.S. cuts across party lines, according to a new Yale University report. Three in four …

Key elements for phasing out fossil fuels in a managed way include social protection for fossil fuel workers, sound investments in low-emission sectors, and local economic diversification. (Pixabay)

Report: Protecting Workers Key to Phasing Out Fossil-Fuel Dependence

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- As Wyoming's oil and gas sector continues to struggle during the coronavirus pandemic, a new report in the journal Climate Policy …

A new report calls on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to establish oil and gas bonds based on the actual cost of reclamation at each well. (Simon Fraser University)

Report: Coronavirus, Historic Low Oil Prices Expose Risk of Inadequate BLM Bonds

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming could see hundreds of oil and gas wells abandoned as over-leveraged operators declare bankruptcy, according to a new report…

Consumer demand for electric vehicles in Jackson has jumped by 300% since 2013. (Needpix)

Gov. Gordon Tackles Electric Vehicle Grid for Mountain States

JACKSON, Wyo. - Wyoming and other western mountain states are pressing ahead with a joint effort to deploy electric vehicle charging stations along …

Research shows that youth and young adults who use e-cigarettes are more likely to use other tobacco products, including traditional cigarettes. (NeedPix)

Wyoming Lawmakers, Health Experts Gather to Address Vaping Risks

CASPER, Wyo. – Wyoming teens' rising use of e-cigarettes, a relatively new nicotine delivery system also known as vaping, was the central topic …

Scientists say regenerative farming practices that don't use synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides can help capture more carbon from the atmosphere and create healthier soil for crops. (Pixabay)

Farmers, Ranchers Push for "Green New Deal" Policies

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Agriculture is the fourth-largest producer of climate pollution. Now farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. have launched a …

On Friday, students across the globe plan to walk out of classes in an effort to convince governments and other leaders to take action on climate change. (Maxpixel)

Wyoming Students Hesitant About Another Climate Strike

CASPER, Wyo. – The call for a global student climate strike has mostly fallen on deaf ears in Wyoming, and after receiving hate messages on …

Two Naughton power plant units near Kemmerer would retire four years ahead of schedule in one version of PacifiCorp's long-term power plan. (Born1945/Flickr)

PacifiCorp's Long-term Power Plan to Impact WY Coal Plants

KEMMERER, Wyo. - Cheaper renewable energy and storage, along with early retirement of coal-fired units in Wyoming and Utah, could save utility …

Coal ash is what's left after burning coal for electricity production, and is typically stored in open air, often unlined slurries. (Richard Webb)

Public Comments Sought for WY Coal-Ash Cleanup

SHERIDAN, Wyo. – The deadline for public comments on PacifiCorp's plans to mitigate toxic leaks from coal ash ponds at power plants in Wyoming …

Many pollinator species have migration routes that cover hundreds and even thousands of miles. (Publicdomainpictures)

Pollinator Pit Stop "Hero Habitat" Garden Launches in Cheyenne

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming's first public Habitat Hero Demonstration Garden, a converted stretch of lawn in front of the Cheyenne Board of Public …

Nearly four in five voters surveyed support incentives for Wyoming farmers and ranchers to conserve wildlife habitat on their lands, while at the same time operating as a working farm or ranch. (NPS)

Poll: WY Voters Support Balanced Conservation and Energy Development

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming voters overwhelmingly support a balanced approach to conservation, according to a new survey. Scott Zimmerman…

As much as $96 million worth of natural gas is lost due to flaring, venting and leaks in Wyoming's oil and gas fields every year. (BLM)

BLM Methane Rule Rollbacks Put Wyoming Proposal in Spotlight

LANDER, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday took final steps to weaken Obama-era methane rules requiring oil and gas companies to …

Natural gas lost through leaks, venting and other waste costs Wyoming between $8.8 million and $16 million in lost tax revenue every year. (BLM)

New Methane Waste Proposal Welcomed by Industry, Conservationists

CASPER, Wyo. – Wyoming wants to extend pollution and waste reduction efforts proven effective in the Upper Green River Basin to the rest of the …

Over 70 percent of Americans now believe climate change is real, a new high. (Greg Goebel/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Republicans, Democrats Actually Agree on Climate Change

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Democrats and Republicans agree on climate change more than they might think, according to a new University of Colorado study…

Replacing older power plants with gas-fired facilities would require an investment of $500 billion, and would lock in another $480-billion in fuel costs. (PXhere)

Study: New Natural-Gas Power Plants Could End Up as Stranded Assets

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A new Rocky Mountain Institute study is cautioning investors, including public utilities, against a full-press effort to build …

The drop in prices for renewable energy could turn almost $1 trillion in natural gas infrastructure investments into stranded assets. (Pexels)

U.N. Report Calls U.S. Fracking History Cautionary Tale

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – After looking back at the history of shale gas extraction in the United States, international development and trade experts …

According to analysis from the Trump administration, the Clean Power Plan could prevent as many as 4,500 premature deaths each year by 2030. (Pixabay)

EPA Chief Pruitt Skips Public Hearing on Clean Power Plan Repeal

GILLETTE, Wyo. – EPA chief Scott Pruitt is in coal country today to meet with industry leaders, but he opted not to attend the final listening …

More than 17 million people live within a mile of an active oil or gas well, including more than 2 million children and elderly people - groups especially vulnerable to air pollution and contaminated water. (Joshua Doubek/Wikimedia Commons)

Physician Groups Publish "One-Stop Shop" for Fracking Science

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Physicians' groups are sounding the alarm on the health risks posed by hydraulic fracturing, and have published a compendium …

Wyoming law prohibits selling tobacco products to minors, but there are no federal rules limiting access to electronic cigarettes. (Info-Electronic-Cigarette.com/Wikimedia Commons)

E-Cigarettes Produce Toxic Chemicals, Study Says

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – An increasing number of teens in Wyoming and across the United States are drawn to electronic cigarettes, with such flavors as …

A proposed project in Converse County could lead to the extraction of 94 million barrels of oil and 5.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. (Pixabay)

Air Quality and Methane Waste in Question in Converse County Project

CASPER, Wyo. — Conservationists are calling on the Bureau of Land Management to consider air quality and methane waste before green-lighting a …

A new study says automobiles are so much cleaner than 100 years ago that perfumes, paints and household cleaning agents are taking over the top spot for urban air pollution. (indoorpollution.info)

Study: Indoor Pollution Risks Inch Closer to Outdoor Pollution

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Because cars are now dramatically cleaner than they used to be, products such as skin lotions and indoor cleaners are becoming …

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