However, today the “Stream Protection Rule” (SPR) is still stuck in my craw, and coal is vital for school funding, so let’s start there. When the Office of Surface Mining issued the SPR, even as corrupt as that process has become, it was still a competitive advantage for Wyoming coal.

Dry, rolling hills in the Powder River Basin (PRB), where overburden to coal ratios are still favorable, benefits compared to coal production in WV, VA, & KY. So, why did Wyoming politicians stab coal miners, school funding, and taxpayers? Corruption.

Midwestern Coal (Peabody, Arch Minerals), and Eastern Coal (formerly Alpha, and others), never wanted a single ton of PRB coal shipped into their customer’s businesses. They did not start the PRB, but made a defensive purchase of the assets from the Big Oil companies that did start the PRB. Yes, Peabody did do a “greenfield” start, but that also was a defensive investment.

The WY PRB closed down more than 1,000 mines in the USA. While PRB production costs are increasing, that resource is a blessing for Wyoming, that we don’t appreciate. The lack of outcry from lazy Wyoming citizens, taking their good fortune for granted, is a crime we can only blame on ourselves.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.