By Steve Fiscor Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is reviewing its Buffalo Resource Management Plan, which covers Wyoming’s Powder River Basin (PRB). Reacting to a court order, the BLM must complete new coal screening and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis of coal-leasing alternatives, and disclose the public health impacts of burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas, etc.). The decision could place a moratorium on coal extraction on federal lands in that region. The Biden Administration could use the policy to affect the green energy transition by refusing to renew PRB coal-lease agreements. Roughly 40% of the nation’s coal originates from Wyoming and most of it is mined in the PRB.
The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing titled, “Examining the Biden Administration’s Record on Federal Coal Leasing.” During that hearing (see U.S. News, p. 12), an executive from the Navajo Transitional Energy Co. (NTEC) described the current situation, which seems almost unworkable. He also expressed his concerns for the future of PRB production. NTEC operates open-pit mines in the district.
Consumers are also reacting with concern. A total of 19 Nebraska state senators signed a letter asking the BLM not to impose a moratorium or any other prohibitions against coal mining in the PRB. “This decision will have a direct effect on folks living in western Nebraska,” said Nebraska Senator Steve Erdman. Citing the benefits provided by the Gerald Gentleman Station, located along State Highway 25 in Sutherland, Nebraska, which supplies electricity to 600,000 households using clean, low-sulfur PRB coal, he said Nebraska, along with many other states, cannot afford to
go without coal.
“During the winter of 2021, Midwestern states experienced a unique weather event which shut down power lines and caused rolling blackouts from North Dakota all the way down to Texas,” Erdman said. “Wind turbines as far away as Texas froze and natural gas was in short supply. Without coal, the winter of 2021 would have been much worse. Erdman and the other senators are advocating for a responsible energy plan, one that would meet Nebraska’s needs for energy on demand, respects ratepayers’ budgets, and one that does not leave Nebraska vulnerable to winter storms.
The BLM has choices. It could make no decision and 48 billion tons of BLM-administered federal coal would remain available for future leasing. It could designate BLM-administered federal coal as unsuitable for future leasing and mining could continue on existing leases until the leased coal is exhausted. Or it could consider limited leasing. The BLM’s Wyoming State Director said he prefers the no-leasing or limited-leasing alternatives.
