Efforts are underway in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to transform reclaimed coal mines into solar farms, potentially revitalizing the local economy despite grid limitations and community attachment to fossil fuels.
Rusty Bell and Justin Loyka are exploring solar development on reclaimed coal mines to sustain the economy in Gillette, Wyoming.
Despite community loyalty to coal, the market's shift towards clean energy is driving this initiative.
Grid space limitations and past funding rejections challenge the progress of solar projects in the region.
Key quote:
“There’s huge post-mining landscapes in the American West and across the country, and there are huge areas that we’re trying to protect.”
— Justin Loyka, an energy program director with the Nature Conservancy’s Wyoming chapter
Why this matters:
Transforming old coal mines into solar farms could provide a new revenue stream and job opportunities for Gillette, a town historically reliant on the coal industry. However, the transition isn't without its challenges. The existing grid infrastructure struggles to support the integration of new solar power, requiring significant upgrades and investments.
The European Union energy watchdog praised North Macedonia on Wednesday for a pioneering project among EU aspirants to transform an ageing coal mine into two solar power plants, in line with goals to cut pollution and tackle climate change.
