The Interior Department on Wednesday completed the fast-tracked approval of a plan to expand a coal mine in Wyoming that will feed the state’s largest coal-fired power plant.
The agency approved a mining plan change for the Black Butte mine in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, allowing the mine’s operator to recover an additional 9.2 million tons of coal in two new areas and operate through at least 2039. The mine, operating since 1977, feeds coal to the Jim Bridger power plant, which has been shifting to natural gas.
“The Black Butte Mine expansion strengthens our nation’s Energy Dominance by responsibly unlocking federal coal resources,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “This decision also supports good-paying jobs in Wyoming and ensures the land is restored after mining, reflecting our commitment to both energy and environmental stewardship.”
Interior said approval of the mine aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at unleashing American energy and reviving the coal sector.
