Local Politics
Wyoming Signs Federal Agreement to Expedite Energy Project Permitting
Gov. Mark Gordon signed a memorandum of understanding Monday afternoon with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council to streamline permitting for large energy and industrial projects, including data centers and AI computing facilities. The agreement aligns Wyoming with federal efforts to shorten environmental reviews and public comment periods, which the council says have reduced average review times from 1,500 days to 400. Residents in Carbon County and Crook County have previously raised concerns about expedited reviews affecting the Seminoe pumped-storage hydroelectric project and the Bear Lodge rare earth mining project. Gordon said the partnership will provide a transparent forum for community participation but noted that FAST-41 status does not guarantee a permit.