The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to block new EPA regulations forcing coal plants to reduce emissions or shut down, leaving Wyoming and other coal-reliant states to fight the rules in lower courts.
Dustin Bleizeffer reports for WyoFile.
In short:
- Wyoming's coal industry faces closure or costly retrofits as EPA rules require steep emissions cuts by 2032.
- Wyoming is part of ongoing lawsuits to overturn the regulations, citing the economic impacts on coal-dependent communities.
- Utilities argue that retrofitting coal plants with carbon capture technology remains financially unviable.
Key quote:
"Intentionally making reliable and dispatchable energy needlessly more expensive will kill people."
— Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette
Why this matters:
Wyoming's coal industry provides electricity to half the nation’s coal-fired power plants, making these federal rules a serious threat to the state's economy. As coal plants close or convert, communities reliant on coal jobs face a future of economic uncertainty.
Related: Wyoming hesitates to embrace solar energy despite its potential
