Officials in Lincoln County are pressing the owners of the Kemmerer coal mine for more details as rumors circulate about potential layoffs at the site.
County Commission Chairman Kent Connelly told WyoFile on Monday that he and others have heard about communications workers received from mine management concerning pending layoffs.
The company has “put out no press release, given us no numbers,” Connelly told WyoFile by phone. “The people who work there have said that [the company has] talked to them about it. Beyond that, I can’t get an official thing out of the mine at all. We would like to know what’s happening.”
Kemmerer Mayor Robert Bowen said he’s also heard the same reports spreading around the community in recent days without confirmation from the company.
“At this point, I’m not saying it’s not going to happen,” Bowen told WyoFile via phone, “but I’m just skeptical about anything I hear until it does happen, just because I’ve heard so many rumors that, you know, half the time it turned out be false.”
The mine owner, ECC Capital Corporation, did not respond to WyoFile’s inquiries before publication of this story.
Rumors of layoffs have circulated since the Southern California-based “specialty finance and asset management company” acquired the mine from PhenixFIN Corporation last year. The previous owner, Westmoreland Coal Co., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018. In addition to serving the nearby Naughton coal- and natural gas-fired power plant, the mine ships coal to trona operations in southwest Wyoming for boiler systems used in refining processes, as well as out-of-state electrical generation customers, according to local officials.
The mine produced 2.4 million tons of coal in 2024 and employed 215 workers, according to federal data. It produced more than 4.2 million tons in 2017 and employed 279 workers in the fourth quarter of that year.
Bust or boom?
Though local officials are bullish on coal’s prospect for a potential turnaround under the second Trump administration and rising electrical demand, they can only brace for a range of short-term interruptions — from layoffs to a potential closure of the mine. Even as the mine faces uncertainty, the neighboring towns of Kemmerer and Diamondville — along with all of southwest Wyoming — anticipate huge industrial growth and a shortage of affordable housing to meet demands from new projects such as a major trona mining expansion and TerraPower’s Natrium nuclear power plant complex already under construction, Connelly explained.
“I would think people [if they get laid off] would want to stay here,” Connelly said. “They would probably be trying to get hired on at these other places that are hiring.”
However, not every major industrial project that’s in motion is a sure thing, he added. While the Natrium plant and a trona expansion appear to be on track, other plans for a large solar farm and coal-to-products still face uncertainties.
“It’s 50 different things in this area around here,” Connelly said. “There’s a lot going on.”
Though there’s much promise for an expanding industrial economy in the region, local officials are still wary, Lincoln County Economic Development Director Robert King told WyoFile.
“You can’t really depend on anything until you see concrete going in the ground and buildings going up,” King said. “Too many things can happen in the process. We’ve got some high hopes, but until it actually happens, I’m just not going to hold my breath.”
Adding to the uncertainty is what appears to be a lot of chaos under the Trump administration, King said, noting confusion around federal employee layoffs and a freeze on federal grant and research programs that could make or break several industrial projects in the region.
“It’s a strange time right now,” he said.
Is the same situation occurring in the several large coal mines of northeastern Wyoming, specifically around Gillette?
One of the biggest reasons I hear for maintaining the coal industry is jobs. Imagine if Blockbuster employees used their jobs as a reason not to advance the streaming industry, or if we go way back to the horse and buggy industry… No one is entitled to keep the same job you had when you were 20 or 30. Things change and those who are adaptable will succeed. Those who aren’t, well… Ignorance is a big problem in the US.
Agreed! But when industries are laying off a lot of people, perhaps we need to find a way to assist them through retraining and finding new jobs.
I don’t want to see anyone lose their job. Maybe Trump can save coal for a short time, but it looks like it will die. Nuclear is also not your friend.
Living in Campbell County and working in the coal mines for the last 15 years I’ve heard more rumors and negative things about coal. We took a hard hit with Joe Biden in his crew of millionaires that don’t give a damn about us. Keep your head up keep working keep your eyes open for the next hole that you can slide into Keep it positive attitude because this whole industry can wear a guide down quick just worrying about feeding his family God always says one door open another door close you know that saying just keep enough money so you can make your next move being in the dirt business for over 40 years. It’s hit and miss wherever you go Hang in there. Ignore the rumors and enjoy life. Just make sure you put enough money away to grab that U-Haul and sell that house and relocate if you have to it sucks, but that’s the business. We’re in hang in there my fellow coal miners four years is a short term for Trump, but I believe The Republicans will hold the house. God bless y’all, Scott Ball, right Wyoming.
Thanks Scott. You said it a lot better than I did below. I had 26 years in two mines – Black Butte and Cordero. And I did another four years as an Instructional Designer with ITEC doing mostly mine training through Gillette College. I know this may not apply anymore with all the new owners involved, but when I mined, following my first and only one year layoff, I found out that Black Butte and Cordero both had education benefits that almost no one used! In addition very few miners used ITEC’s programs unless the company paid all expenses. I know it is too late now for most miners, but looking for a new job is better with a state Journeyman’s license, a certificate showing your training in hydraulics, or a welding certificate. Hang in there guys and gals, one thing you have that I didn’t have is the fact Gillette seems to be thriving in spite of the coal mines – meaning it is more diverse and may have jobs available so you can stay here and continue making your house payment if a lay-off occurs. I had the luck of being one of the very few who got his old job back a year after the BBCC layoff in 1987. Good luck to all those facing possible lay off.
PS Electricians – a rumor, or truth at one time, which was told to me in the mines until I found out different in 2007, said coal mine time could not be used towards a Wyoming State Journeyman Electrician’s License. When it changed, I do not know. When I was working close with the Electrical Licensing people in 2007 I was told I could get my state Journeyman’s license based on my coal mine electrical time. This may be old news, I left the state for 11 years and just recently returned, but if you have an occupation which state licensing might help with, go ahead, and try for it. If nothing else, reciprocity might help you get a job in another state.
Fun to hear all the pro-coal miners now. Where were you in 1987 with the Black Butte layoffs? Not a word from any person, politician or citizen. Most of the almost 300 had to find work out-of-state and many of those may have lost their homes. That many people putting homes on the market at once – only a minority actually sold.
How many miners have prepared for these current layoffs? They had lots of warnings, especially when most of the major mining corporations sold out to private equity firms, as I understand. Oh well, look at the history of #4 in Rock Springs. You get laid off, you take it like a man or woman and do the best you can. Pick bottles out of the ditches and sell them for what you can get. Or load the car up and go to the gold mines in Nevada.
The issue with coal is the same issue that killed the timber industry in our state. Really bad green policy. We are now seeing the destruction caused by federal policy decisions and law suits from environmental groups. President Trump only has 4 years and one does not know what comes afterwards. 4 years is not a long time in the investment planning world. We shall see.
I worked at that mine for 40 years. The unwritten policy was; “If you haven’t heard a rumor by 2 hours into your shift, start one!”
One thing that is certain, the MAGA CHAOS felon is going to have way too much on his plate to work on, b ringing coal back will be at the bottom of the list.
No. Mike. I believe you’re wrong. Coal fired power plants likely will be reactivated to drop high utility costs that are or were caused by the worst President USA has ever had. Joe Biden. It will be DIG BABY DIG AND DRILL BABY DRILL
What Mike said. Guessing a lot of alt-right types cheering the demise of Federal jobs are now wondering if they are next. Reap what you sow.
Hard working miners have been wondering when it would be them next ever since the Clinton/Gore administration.