In Wyoming, lawmakers recently passed several bills aimed at protecting the state’s coal interests this legislative session. That’s despite the coal industry being in the midst of a steady decline. This year, two major mines in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming announced closures. Historically, the Basin has produced about half of the coal in the United States. And, there are already 40 percent fewer miners employed in Wyoming compared to just a decade ago. In Jackson, KHOL’s Will Walkey reports on the state legislature’s efforts to fight economic trends impacting coal communities.
