Wyoming Coal at the Center of Rising Energy Demand

The Department of the Interior announced it will open over 13 million acres of federal land for new coal leases, while the Department of Energy is committing $625 million to modernize coal plants and strengthen the U.S. mining sector. Together, these efforts extend the life of coal-fired power, open doors for export growth, and keep energy reliable and affordable for communities and businesses nationwide.

Thanks to the Powder River Basin’s low-sulfur, cost-effective coal, Wyoming remains America’s most competitive producer, supporting workers, creating jobs, and meeting rising energy demand from industries like data centers and AI.

WY it matters: For Wyoming, this isn’t just energy policy, it’s economic security. Coal powers affordable electricity for half the nation, sustains thousands of local jobs, and generates revenue that supports our schools, infrastructure, and communities.

Additionally, with the electricity demand now starting to outpace supply (driven by population growth, data centers, manufacturing, and AI) the need for dependable baseload power has never been greater. By advancing coal alongside critical minerals and next-generation energy technologies, Wyoming isn’t just keeping the lights on, it’s closing the gap between rising demand and limited supply, and powering America’s future.