In a significant move towards environmental preservation, the Biden administration announced on Thursday that it will put an end to all new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana, the largest producing coal region in the United States. This decision, which comes as a response to a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, is expected to face strong protests from the coal industry and affected states, particularly Wyoming.

The final environmental study conducted by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), specifically the Buffalo, Wyoming field office, concluded that new coal leasing would have severe consequences on human health and the climate, primarily due to the burning of coal in power plants. Environmentalists hailed the announcement as a victory, estimating that it would result in six billion tons of "highly polluting coal remaining in the ground."

Mark Fix of the Northern Plains Resource Council, based in Montana, applauded the BLM's decision, stating that it reflects the current reality of coal markets and follows a common sense approach.

It is important to note that this ruling will not shut down the coal industry in the region entirely, as companies will still be able to develop federal leases that have already been issued. Nonetheless, this decision comes at a challenging time for Wyoming's coal industry, struggling to find new markets as several cities along the west coast have banned coal-based power generation. Wyoming currently leads the nation as the top coal producer, accounting for 41% of the country's total supply, while West Virginia ranks second with 14%.

In response to the administration's action, Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso criticized the Biden administration, accusing them of "waging war on Wyoming's coal communities and families." He expressed concerns that the decision would lead to job losses and could potentially cost Wyoming hundreds of millions of dollars, funds that are crucial for public schools, roads, and other essential services.

This development follows a court ruling earlier this year that overturned a broad ban on new coal leasing implemented during the Obama era. In Wyoming, groups opposing the BLM's Powder River Basin decisions have thirty days to formally file their protests.

As the debate surrounding energy sources and environmental concerns intensifies, the Biden administration's decision to halt new coal leasing in Wyoming and Montana has sparked controversy, pitting the interests of the coal industry against the imperative of addressing climate change and promoting cleaner energy alternatives.