Wyoming

Carbon Dioxide Can’t Be Labeled A “Pollutant” Under Proposed Wyoming Legislation

Published

1 year ago

January 7, 2025

Carbon Dioxide Can’t Be Labeled A “Pollutant” Under Proposed Wyoming Legislation

Legislation proposed by state Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, may turn out to be more than a message about the political debate over climate change, it also could mark a substantial change in Wyoming’s environmental policy moving forward.

Her “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” bill shared exclusively with Cowboy State Daily would cut out low-carbon energy standards in Wyoming and repeal legislation passed by the Legislature in 2020 that requires coal power plant owners to retrofit their facilities with carbon capture, use and storage technologies as an alternative to help prevent them from having to shut down.

It also would specify that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant or contaminant and cannot be designated as such in Wyoming.

“It requires a clear-eyed look at how policies aimed at eliminating CO2 emissions, such as decarbonizing the West, making Wyoming carbon negative or popular ‘net-zero’ mandates,” Steinmetz writes in an op-ed. “They may sound good on paper but often come with high economic costs and questionable environmental benefits, and clearly negative effects on our people and our industries.

“Wyoming must refuse to jeopardize our economy and energy security for initiatives that will yield — at best — questionable results.”

Gov. Mark Gordon has been a major proponent of Wyoming becoming carbon negative, which he views as the best approach to saving the state’s fossil fuels industries. He declined to comment on Steinmetz’s legislation.

What It Does

The 2020 bill passed with a solid majority in both chambers and was signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon. Last year, the Legislature passed new legislation easing some of the requirements on the 2020 mandate and bumped the deadline that operators need to comply with these standards from 2030 to 2033.

The 2020 legislation was brought as an attempt to insulate coal plants from changing market demands and help stem off the closure of these facilities because of a larger shift away from coal by bringing more carbon capture projects to Wyoming.

Sen. Brian Boner, R-Douglas, was a co-sponsor on the 2020 bill and doesn’t support Steinmetz’s new effort as he believes it has been effective in helping save Wyoming’s coal industry.

“I’d be hesitant to move away from strategies that are clearly working to preserve our baseload, coal-fired power plants that we’re going to need,” Boner said.

Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, agrees, calling the new effort “another bill that does nothing to make everyday Wyomingites’ lives better, but just a continuation of the in-fighting within the majority party.”

Who It Effects

This law impacts five coal plants in Wyoming.

Boner believes the 2020 legislation has been “demonstrably effective” in protecting Wyoming’s coal industry and economy.

He pointed out how Rocky Mountain Power said in its biennial Integrated Resources Plan released last week that it will delay closure of Dave Johnston Power Plant Units 1 and 2 in Glenrock by one year to 2029, and will continue to evaluate carbon capture and sequestration options for Jim Bridger Units 3 and 4 in Rock Springs for completion by 2030. The closure of Units 1 and 2 had originally been proposed for 2027.

“In terms of saving jobs, for Converse County this is a success,” Boner said. “It demonstrates the current strategy is working. It’s a huge deal for Glenrock.”

The mandated retrofits are a costly measure for these facilities however, which the 2020 legislation also attempted to address at the time. Under the law, each utility company is allowed to initiate a cost recovery mechanism that allows them to charge up to 2% of each customer’s total electric bill to help shoulder the cost of the low‑carbon energy standard passed by the Legislature.

“The people of Wyoming have always believed in the value of questioning conventional wisdom, looking at the bigger picture and finding solutions that are possible and actually work,” Steinmetz wrote. “This legislation is not about denying science, it is about applying science, thoroughly reevaluating the ‘climate change’ scientific assumptions and advocating for policies grounded in practicality, reality, and achievability — common sense.”

Steinmetz’s bill would repeal these requirements and require utility companies to refund any rate taxes that customers paid to help install the carbon capture technology, but only for unspent money. How these refunds would be delivered would be up to the Public Service Commission.

Travis Deti, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association, said his organization is neutral on Steinmetz’s bill and sees both pros and cons to mandating carbon sequestration efforts at coal plants.

“I certainly understand the concern, but there’s pretty good support for viable carbon capture at coal facilities,” he said. “Unless there’s a dramatic shift in the market, using carbon capture utilization for emissions is going to be needed to keep the coal fleet going.”

Outgoing Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, said that when his bill passed in 2020, solar energy was much less prevalent than it is today, which served as an impetus to bridge a connection to carbon capture. He said the recent growth of solar, which he expects solar energy to be cheaper than coal in about five years, takes away some of the gusto from the bill’s original purpose, with the future of coal production worldwide in serious doubt when compared to the growth of that alternative energy.

“Here in the next decade, it (worldwide demand) could easily switch to solar, and Wyoming could be left in the dark,” Zwoniter said.

But he still opposes Steinmetz’s bill as he believes it is the wrong approach to try and keep coal alive in Wyoming and believes if passed, will kill the industry more quickly.

“The difficulty with passing the bill is Wyoming ultimately needs to focus on technology, research and development for our coal industry, to keep coal viable and sustainable,” Zwonitzer said. “The bill takes a step back from us trying to invest in coal as a long-term source of power for Wyoming.”

The Dave Johnston power plant’s four units were built between 1959 and 1972. (Cowboy State Daily Staff)

CO2 A Good Thing?

Steinmetz’s bill also would make a formal state policy statement against addressing carbon dioxide as a negative by declaring that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant.

This stance flies in the face of the widespread scientific conclusion that it is a pollutant despite the gas occurring naturally in the air.

Steinmetz said the bill would directly contradict Environmental Protection Agency mandates.

She also said it would have no impact on oil recovery efforts in Wyoming but would affect carbon capture injection wells and underground facilities.

She also argues in her bill that carbon dioxide serves a valuable role in agricultural production as “a foundational nutrient necessary for all life on Earth,” and that the carbon cycle “is a biological necessity for life on Earth.”

“Wyoming is uniquely positioned to lead this conversation,” Steinmetz writes in her op-ed. “Our state is vital to energy production, agriculture and food industries, transportation and energy reliability and stability. We understand the real-world importance of CO2.”

Her stance aligns with the views presented in a hearing denying the effects of climate change held at the Capitol during the Legislature last year. The scientists featured in this hearing either expressed disbelief that climate change is happening, or a belief that it could not only be inconsequential, but even beneficial.

Although rising temperatures could indeed help agricultural production in some parts of the world, it also could further exacerbate decades of drought already seen in the Colorado River Basin and other areas and further elevate sea levels, which will lead to more flooding and property damage on the coasts.

Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.

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Wyoming

Wyoming Has Half Of The West’s 26 100-Year-Old Dude Ranches

Published

2 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Has Half Of The West’s 26 100-Year-Old Dude Ranches

Like many rabbit holes, it all started with a simple question.

About two years ago, Jaye Wells was at a small gathering in Cody when the topic of the 2026 centennial anniversary of the Dude Ranchers’ Association came up.

Wells asked how many dude ranches in the country had a comparable 100-year legacy to the Cody-based member organization.

“Nobody in the room knew,” said Wells, co-founder of the True Ranch Collection, with a portfolio of dude ranches around the West, including the Blackwater Creek Lodge and Guest Ranch in Cody.

Thus began a yearslong and, at times laborious, project of tracking down the number of dude ranches in operation since 1926, which are commemorated in “100 Years of Dude Ranching,” a coffee-table-style book published by Wells in December.

Though it took a lot of digging through records at the Wyoming Historical Society, old newspaper clippings and cross-referencing family records, the team behind the book finally identified a fitting answer to Wells’ question.

Of the 94 dude ranches that are members of the association today, 26 were in operation and accepting guests a century ago.

“That shocked us,” Wells said. “Every ranch has got its own little curiosity.”

The team behind the book was strict about the criteria it established: To be included in the book, a dude ranch must have been accepting guests in 1926. Had they expanded their criteria, the list would have been even longer.

“There are a lot of ranches that are 97 or 98 years old,” Wells said.

A Tribute To Hospitality

As much as the book celebrates the long legacy of dude ranching, it also serves as a tribute to a unique way of life — particularly in Wyoming.

The state is home to half of the 26 centennial ranches: A Bar A Ranch (Encampment), Absaroka Ranch (Dubois), Blackwater Creek Lodge and Guest Ranch (Cody), CM Ranch (Dubois), Crossed Sabres Ranch (Cody), Darwin Ranch (Jackson), Eatons’ Ranch (Wolf), the Hideout Lodge and Guest Ranch (Shell), Medicine Bow Lodge and Guest Ranch (Saratoga), Paradise Guest Ranch (Buffalo), Rimrock Ranch (Cody), Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch (Cody), and Triangle X Ranch (Moose).

As the book details, the origins of dude ranching trace back to the 1880s, when a ranch near modern-day Medora, North Dakota, began charging guests from back East room and board when they’d come out West to hunt bison and other big game.

The word “dude” had become a popular term by that time for a man with fancy duds.

More and more ranches started opening up to guests in the 1900s, including welcoming many young men whose parents had sent them West to dry out and stay out of trouble.

“You had to be wealthy to stay at a dude ranch back in the day,” Wells said.

But life on these ranches today might look surprisingly similar to a century ago.

Ranch hands might start rounding up horses at 4:30 in the morning and preparing breakfast so it’s ready for guests when they awaken, Wells said. In addition to historic photos of the ranches, photographer Scott Baxter spent four months on the road capturing how the ranches look now.

While still offering a vacation that’s more expensive than a typical tourist might be able to afford, Wells said one of the constants at the centennial ranches spread across four states is the service and experience they offer.

“The strongest element that’s kept dude ranching going all that time is a common denominator,” Wells said. “It’s the desire to offer great hospitality.”

As much as the book celebrates dude ranches, it’s also a tribute to a unique way of life, particularly in Wyoming. “It’s such a tough business, but it’s such a joy,” said Jaye Wells, who owns the Blackwater Creek Lodge & Guest Ranch in Cody. (Courtesy Scott T. Baxter)
It was while kicking around ideas for the 100-year anniversary of the Dude Ranching Association that Jaye Wells asked how many ranches have a similar legacy. “Nobody in the room knew,” Wells recalled. That’s how the new book “100 Years of Dude Ranching” was born. (Courtesy Scott T. Baxter)
As much as the book celebrates dude ranches, it’s also a tribute to a unique way of life, particularly in Wyoming. “It’s such a tough business, but it’s such a joy,” said Jaye Wells, who owns the Blackwater Creek Lodge & Guest Ranch in Cody. (Courtesy Scott T. Baxter)
As much as the book celebrates dude ranches, it’s also a tribute to a unique way of life, particularly in Wyoming. “It’s such a tough business, but it’s such a joy,” said Jaye Wells, who owns the Blackwater Creek Lodge & Guest Ranch in Cody. (Courtesy Scott T. Baxter)

Pressures To Modernize

Even so, dude ranch owners do feel some pressure to modernize to appease guests who have become downright uncomfortable unplugging.

Such changes have seen ranches offering Wi-Fi, say, or packing days with lots of activities.

Even though guests will quickly learn that riding a horse all day is exercise in and of itself, Wells said he’s felt that pressure, too. “We have a full-blown exercise room at White Stallion Ranch,” he said of one of his ranches near Tucson, Arizona. “You have to have it now.”

What’s more, even though guests will rave about how relaxing they find their stay or how much they appreciate the quality time with loved ones, they’re booking shorter and shorter stays.

In the 1920s, people from out East might come to a ranch for months at a time, and there was a time not so long ago when a one- or two-week stay was the norm.

“Now, guests only want to stay three nights. That’s the number one trend in the business we see,” Wells said. “We forget we’re so connected now, it’s almost too much. We’re being bombarded by information 24 hours a day.”

Wyoming has 13 100-year-old dude raches, half of the 26 centennial dude ranches in the West. That's one of the things the team behind the new book — Wyoming has 13 100-year-old dude raches, half of the 26 centennial dude ranches in the West. That’s one of the things the team behind the new book “100 Years of Dude Ranching” learned in documenting the industry’s century of Western hospitality. Above is a scene from the Blackwater Creek Ranch. (Courtesy Scott T. Baxter)

‘It’s Such A Joy’

Putting this book together gave Wells a newfound appreciation for the diversity of Wyoming’s topography and landscapes.

The project also offered constant reminders about why he loves dude ranching so much and how pivotal the business was to shaping the West.

Of course, he’s also reminded of how unique this business is while conversing with guests over the years — including tourists from abroad who marvel at the idea of being able to shoot a gun, spend a week bonding with a horse or simply get to decompress in a way they haven’t been able to do since childhood.

“I would venture to say it’s one of the most iconic symbols in the world,” Wells said of dude ranching. “It’s such a tough business, but it’s such a joy.”

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Wyoming

(PHOTOS) Casper Holistic Expo packs the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds

Published

14 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

(PHOTOS) Casper Holistic Expo packs the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds

CASPER, Wyo. — There was magic, or something like it, in the air on Saturday as the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds presented the 2026 Casper Holistic Expo, Casper’s longest running holistic expo and a hallmark of the beginning of spring in Natrona County.

Countless vendors from Casper and beyond gathered with their goodies to present them to eager customers searching for something a little different.

The holistic expo featured crystal and metaphysical shops, tattoo and body piercing studios, henna and glitter tattoo studios, holistic shops, tarot readings, fortune tellers, magic and so much more. There was truly something for everyone, and Christina Kuhn, the lead organizer, said that nobody who came to the expo would leave disappointed.

“This actually started over 20 years ago,” Kuhn said. “I’ve been doing it for years. My mom did it for seven years before me. And Judy Ick, who actually does our photography, she did it before that. So it’s been a very long, very longstanding and growing event.”

Kuhn said that the Holistic Expo has grown exponentially over the years.

“When Judy passed it down to mom, there were 38 booths,” she said. “After mom passed it down to me, there were 78. Now I think we’re up to, like, 98.”

The booths are as eclectic as the people who run them. There’s magic, mysticism and moonlight; storytellers and palm readers; conversationalists and creators. There are CBD products, organic teas, energy testing, and even fudge.

“Some of this is kind of a special niche,” Kuhn shared, “but some of it is not. We’ve got a chiropractor. We’ve got people that are working with healing modalities. Some of it’s spiritual stuff. We’ve got crafts, too.”

There’s a wide variety of vendors and customers as the Holistic Expo, and Kuhn said she wouldn’t want it any other way. The most important thing they do, Kuhn said, is donate to local nonprofits.

“People can either pay the $5 door fee — anybody that’s 13 or over — or they can donate five nonperishable goods,” Kuhn said. “We started donating that to poverty resistance, and then we did City Park Church. This year we’re donating to the Wyoming Food for Thought Project.”

Kuhn said this was just a simple way to give back to the community, a community she and her business have been a part of for years. Kuhn owns a store in downtown Casper called A Place for Passion, and the Holistic Expo also allows her to bring some merch from her store and put in on display with a variety of other items. It’s a fun way to spend a weekend, she said, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

“Good lord, I’ve been doing this for a long time,” she said. “I helped my mom with it for ages and she wanted somebody that would carry on and keep expanding and doing well with it. Before I was helping run the show and managing it, I was a booth. I started sharing a booth with my mom because I only had a few things and I wasn’t sure how well they’d sell. But then it just expanded and took off, and now here I am.”

Kuhn said it means a lot that she’s able to continue the Holistic Expo for her mother.

“It’s nice to keep expanding something, especially something that contributes so much to the community,” she said. “There are so many people that come out and enjoy everything that they get here. And it’s a big opportunity for them to connect with others, to connect with people that have stuff they want to offer them.”

That, Kuhn said, is her favorite part of the Holistic Expo — meeting people.

“It’s just nice connecting with people and helping them out in any way that you can,” she said. “Everybody’s got their own knowledge, gifts, products that they’re putting out — services, whatever it is. So being able to share that with others is awesome. You’ve got to come check it out. It’s an awesome experience. There’s a little something for everyone.”

The Casper Holistic Expo is happening Saturday until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Industrial Building at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds.

Photos from the Holistic Expo can be seen below:

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Wyoming

Wyoming teen discovers rare and ancient megalodon shark tooth off Florida coast

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming teen discovers rare and ancient megalodon shark tooth off Florida coast

A 6-inch megalodon shark tooth was found by a Wyoming teen during a dive trip off Manasota Key, Florida earlier this week.

Sixteen-year-old Aiden Andrews and his father Brian were on a guided dive with Fossil Junkies, a local fossil-hunting tour company.

Captain John Kreatsoulas told FOX 13 Tampa Bay reporter Kimberly Kuizon that while finding small megalodon teeth isn’t uncommon, finding one that size is quite rare.

Video captured the moments when Aiden and his father celebrated underwater after making the remarkable discovery.

Popularized by Hollywood monster movies, the Carcharocles megalodon was the largest shark to have ever lived, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

A 6-inch megalodon shark tooth was found by a Wyoming teen during a dive trip off Manasota Key, Florida. Fossil Junkies