Sierra Club supports postponing Wyoming Coal Lease Sale

(WYOMING) -- Today, the Department of the Interiorpostponed a planned coal lease saleset to offer 167 Million tons of coal within the Bureau of Land Management's Buffalo Field Office. After a lackluster sale in Montana that generated only a single bid at less than a penny per ton, Wyoming's move to postpone the sale signals the lack of interest from the industry in expanding operations.

Coal production has been declining steadily in the U.S. over the past decade as the resource is replaced by cheaper, cleaner energy sources like renewables. In fact, this is the first year where renewable energy overtook coal as the leading supply of electricity globally. Wyoming has not held a coal lease sale in over a decade.

In response, Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter Director Rob Joyce released the following statement:

"It's time for Wyoming to come to terms that our coal is just not going to bring in what it used to. Our public lands are worth so much more as places to recreate and as habitat for our wildlife."

Robin Everett, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, added:

"It's no surprise this ill-advised sale is faltering. Trump is doing everything he can to prop up a dirty, dangerous and dying industry. From forcing utilities to keep old, outdated plants open, to rolling back critical health and safety standards, it's obvious that coal is still a losing bet."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.