February 27, 2026 - Coal isn’t just part of Wyoming’s landscape. It’s part of the state’s economy, powering homes, funding schools, and supporting communities across the state. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a rollback of newer 2024 pollution rules for coal-fired power plants, reverting facilities back to the 2012 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), a move state leaders say could safeguard jobs and stabilize Wyoming’s coal industry.

“This is a really big deal for Wyoming,” said Cyrus Western, Region 8 Administrator for the EPA. “Coal is one of our top resources that we mine in the state. It builds our schools. It paves our roads. It's a huge part of our state's tax structure that we get revenue from.”

Western added that coal-fired power plants in Wyoming and across the country are major customers for the state’s coal. By using this coal to generate electricity, utilities provide reliable, affordable power while supporting Wyoming’s mining industry and the communities that depend on it.

The 2024 updates to the MATS regulations would have imposed stricter emission limits and additional monitoring requirements on coal-fired power plants. According to the EPA, these new rules were considered difficult, if not impossible, for some utilities to meet. 

Western said the original 2012 standards already provide strong protections for air quality while allowing coal plants to operate efficiently.

“Absolutely not. There will be very clean air. The public will be protected. This does not change,” Western said when asked if the changes will have any impact on air quality or public health in the state. “This rollback doesn't mean that these facilities can go and pollute a bunch more starting tomorrow. That is absolutely not the case. They will not be emitting any more than they are currently right now.”

Coal has been a central part of Wyoming’s economy for more than a century. 

According to the Wyoming Energy Authority’s website, commercial mining began in the 1860s with the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the state now hosts over 1.4 billion short tons of coal reserves, mostly in the Powder River Basin. 

Currently, 15 active mines operate in Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Campbell Counties, with eight of the top 10 coal mines in the country. Wyoming coal is predominantly sub-bituminous, low in sulfur, and highly energy-dense, making it a preferred fuel for electricity generation across the U.S.

About 90% of Wyoming’s coal is used for electricity, according to the Wyoming Energy Authority, and the state exports coal to more than half of the U.S., with Texas, Missouri, and Illinois among the top consumers. 

Western said the 2024 rule changes would have forced utilities to spend hundreds of millions, if not billions, on compliance, costs they could legally pass on to consumers.

“What the 2024 rulemaking was going to do was force some of these utility companies to spend hundreds of millions, if not billions in compliance costs,” said Western. “They are legally allowed to do that.”

Industry supporters say the rollback will help maintain coal plant operations, preserving jobs and economic stability in mining communities.

Wyoming leads the nation in coal production, generating reliable energy for homes and businesses across the country. Leaders say the decision could keep the state’s coal industry competitive while continuing to fund local schools, roads, and services.

“The 2012 standards have already cut harmful emissions, and this action lowers costs for plants while keeping those protections in place,” said Western. “Already in the last ten, 15 years, these utilities have invested huge sums to ensure that coal is being burned cleanly and that power is generated reliably and affordably.”

“This is Administrator Zeldin and President Trump taking decisive action to take regulations … to repeal these regulations to ensure that the air is clean, that we are all breathing, but also ensuring that these companies can burn Wyoming coal in a clean and a protective way,” said Western.

The EPA estimates that the rollback could save consumers an estimated $670 million by avoiding unnecessary compliance costs, potentially lowering costs for electricity, heating, and transportation nationwide. 

As Wyoming continues to supply a significant portion of the nation’s coal, leaders say this decision could shape the state’s energy and economic future for years to come.