Natural Resources Make A Huge Impact On Wyoming

We've discussed Wyoming's leading industries that contribute to the state's well-being before. The top three are Mining and Natural Resources, Tourism, and Agriculture; however, the final numbers are not particularly close among the three. In other words, the mining and natural resource industry in Wyoming is the King of the Hill.

Gas and Oil

The oil and gas industry has provided over $11 billion to the State of Wyoming for education, infrastructure, government operations, and other sectors over the last few years.  A 2023 study from the American Petroleum Institute shows that the Oil and Gas Industry alone provided 58,780 jobs and $5.7 billion in labor income.

So, just saying that mining and natural resources are in the Top 3, I think it's safe to say that without them, Wyoming would be in trouble. Actually, without these oil-producing states, almost every industry would be in trouble.

Compared to Wyoming, only six states outproduced it in the oil industry for 2024.

Find more statistics at Statista

Coal

Looking at Wyoming's coal production, we surpass every other state. 41% of the nation's coal comes from Wyoming. For every job in the coal industry, it supports two additional jobs in the service and support industries.

Did you know that it's estimated that each person in the US uses about 20 pounds of coal per day? Another interesting fact is that 8 out of 10 tons of coal are used to produce electricity. One pound of coal will supply ten 100-watt bulbs each hour.

 Trona

Wyoming's #1 global mineral export is Trona, with 90% of all domestic Soda Ash being produced here. The trona is mined underground, then processed into soda ash or baking soda. If you were to look in your house, you're likely to find a Wyoming trona product. Breads, cookies, cakes, and other baked foods use them.

Bentonite

Known as the "clay of a thousand uses," Wyoming is the leading producer of Bentonite, with over 4 million tons produced annually. Approximately 70% of the world's known bentonite reserves are located in Wyoming.

Rare Earth Elements

Wyoming is home to 17 rare earth elements, which contribute to items you use every day, as well as items used to defend the United States of America. REEs are used in the engines of the F-35 jet, radar systems, drones, and missiles. They are used in your mobile devices, lasers, fiber optics, and many medical devices.

Uranium

Wyoming is consistently one of the leading uranium-producing states in the US. Approximately 13% of the world's electricity is generated from uranium; it's also used for various purposes, including armor for military vehicles such as tanks, smoke detectors, and in the medical field for high-powered X-ray machines.