Wyoming’s Coal Country Could Reignite as Trump Eyes Public Land Sales

Federal officials just took the first step toward reopening massive swaths of public land in Wyoming and Montana to coal mining — part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing push to crank up US fossil fuel production, Colorado Politics reports.

The plan zeroes in on the Powder River Basin, a coal-rich region that spans northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana. It’s no small patch of land either — we’re talking about more than 2,600 square miles of potential mining territory. That’s bigger than Delaware.

This move is a direct reversal of efforts made under the Biden administration, which tried to shut down new federal coal leases in the name of climate action. But Trump’s team? They’re throwing open the gates — and Wyoming’s coal industry might just be ready to ride again.

The push to revive federal coal sales goes back to an executive order Trump signed on day one of his presidency. Now, as he eyes a return to office, the administration is picking up where it left off — leaning heavily on oil, gas, and coal while brushing off renewables.

And there’s another kicker: under a new tax bill Trump signed on the Fourth of July, royalty rates for coal companies drilling on public land just got slashed from 12.5% to 7%. That’s a major incentive for companies that have been struggling to stay afloat.

Even more striking? The bill mandates that the government make 6,250 square miles of federal land available for fossil fuel leasing — more than the entire state of Connecticut.

So far, the Bureau of Land Management isn’t saying much about how soon companies might start mining or what kind of interest they’ve seen. But in coal-hungry places like Wyoming, you can bet ears are perking up.

This isn’t just any coal patch we’re talking about — the Powder River Basin is the coal capital of America. Wyoming alone produces more than 40% of the country’s coal, and the state has long leaned on it for jobs, revenue, and political identity.

For years, Wyoming leaders have been fighting what they see as a war on coal from Washington. Now, with Trump’s team signaling a full-throttle return to fossil fuels, the state could be on the verge of a dramatic energy revival — or a regulatory firefight.

But it’s not without controversy. Environmental advocates argue that reopening coal leases is a climate step backward. And with the world watching extreme weather grow worse, critics say it’s a dangerous signal that the US is doubling down on dirty energy.