powder river basin

With the potential for over 440 million tons of coal, excitement and concern blend as Wyoming eyes new energy opportunities and the impact on local jobs and the environment.

It says it plans to wind down operations at the mine near Gillette.

Officials say the mines have produced about 75 million tons of coal last year, but estimate less than 55 million tons this year.

The Gillette News-Record reports Arch Resources accounted for about 28% of coal production in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin in 2019.

The Billings Gazette reported that Montana mines produced 15.1 million tons of coal in the first seven months of the year, down 21% compared to the same time last year.

Chesapeake, like other energy companies, has been hammered by low energy prices.

The Decker mine produced over 1 million tons of coal and employed 164 workers in the first quarter of 2020.

According to the complaint, Peabody and Arch Coal produced more than two-thirds of the coal mined in the Southern Powder River Basin.

Two former Blackjewel mines, Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr, returned to production in the fourth quarter after their purchase by another company.

U.S. coal consumption experienced a similar decline, decreasing 13.4% from the same period in 2018.