Barrasso: Wyoming Coal “Makes America Energy Dominant” (and Saves the Grid From Itself)

Sen. John Barrasso took to the U.S. Senate floor yesyerday, after meeting with President Donald J. Trump and the White House “energy team,” to make the case that Wyoming coal is the backbone of “affordable, available, reliable” American energy, and that the last administration’s approach was basically a long, expensive experiment in how to annoy energy producers while families pay more.

Barrasso’s message was simple. When the weather gets ugly and the grid gets tested, coal shows up for work.

He pointed to a recent East Coast cold stretch and claimed that during the winter storm, coal generation jumped 31%, while wind and solar output declined, arguing that coal “literally saved American lives.”

He also cited “a recent report” saying families saved more than $100 on energy bills last year thanks to coal generation, framing coal as one of the world’s most affordable, available, and reliable energy sources.

And of course, he emphasized the Wyoming angle. The U.S. has more coal than any other country, and Wyoming produces nearly half of it, so if “energy dominance” is the goal, he argues, Wyoming coal is non-negotiable.

The Policy Punch List: Land, Leasing, Royalties, Overtime

Barrasso credited recent Republican policy wins, specifically a “Working Families Tax Cuts” law, with the following:

Opening 11 million new acres for federal coal leasing, which he said Interior has already acted on.
Reducing royalty rates on coal produced on federal lands, which he framed as increasing certainty and investment for producers.
Delivering “No Taxes on Overtime,” including for Wyoming coal miners.

Translation: Fewer federal obstacles, cheaper extraction costs, and a friendlier tax posture. The kind of stuff Wyoming energy folks tend to describe as “finally” and everyone else describes as “oh boy.”

The Not So Subtle Jab at the Biden Era

Barrasso argued the Biden administration tried to shut down coal mines and attack American coal miners, and he specifically referenced Biden prioritizing “climate” over energy that’s affordable and reliable.

He contrasted that with the current administration, saying America is no longer apologizing for using its resources, and that the agenda is about unleashing energy, growing the economy, and putting more money back in families’ pockets.

Why This Matters to Wyoming

Barrasso closed by leaning into the civic pride argument. Coal revenues help fund schools and community services, and Wyoming miners are “powering the nation.”

Whatever your politics, this is the core message Wyoming leaders keep returning to. Energy is not just an abstract national debate. It is paychecks, county budgets, and whether small communities can keep the lights on, literally and financially.

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