CHEYENNE — A new economic study says pending federal regulations to limit carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants threaten to hit Wyoming’s coal industry hard in coming years.
The Wyoming Infrastructure Authority on Thursday released a study prepared by the University of Wyoming that predicts the federal regulations could force a decline of up to 45 percent in Powder River Basin coal production by 2030.
Wyoming is the nation’s leading coal producing state. It’s among several states pressing a federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to require existing power plants to cut carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
The UW study says Wyoming would benefit from opening coal exports to Asia, but Wyoming has been unsuccessful so far in accessing northwest ports for coal exports.
