Innovative Future in Store for Wyoming

One fact persists amidst today’s needs for energy supply and environmental requirements: coal is Wyoming’s most plentiful natural resource. State leaders in both private and public entities have long sought opportunities to utilize coal and coal byproducts in a manner to meet both concerns. Doing so would drive Wyoming’s potential economic development while meeting today’s environmental demands.

One promising venture is the Wyoming Innovation Center (WyIC). This endeavor holds significant promise for the future of Wyoming’s economy by creating advanced carbon products from coal to spur innovation, jobs and energy security.

The Mid-America Economic Development Council recently recognized the WyIC with its Overcoming Adversity Award, which recognizes how a community, region or state overcomes economic, budgetary, padmeic-related, natural disaster or supply chain challenges it faces.

Commercial potential

The WyIC is a research-to-commercialization facility intended to accelerate research from research labs to the pre-commercialization level. Construction on the WyIC concluded in spring 2022 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June. It is located on a reclaimed mine site in the Fort Union Industrial Park in Gillette. Funding from various entities was utilized to complete the site, including a $1.5 million grant from the Wyoming Business Council and a $1.46 million matching grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Campbell County has committed $176,000, while the City of Gillette has committed $156,000 and is considering an additional $20,000 contribution.

The WyIC offers tenants with promising lab-level research the opportunity to scale up their proposals to prove the commercialization potential. It has been constructed on nearly 10 acres in the Fort Union Industrial with seven pads suitable for pilot plants that could handle processing hundreds of coal or coal byproducts daily. Each demonstration site would be approximately a half-acre and could be operated to facilitate research and practical application on unique projects to prove their commercial potential. Additional facilities include 4,000 square feet for tenant office, lab and workspace and a 1,500-square-foot materials handling building to house various raw materials needed for projects. Energy Capital Economic Development owns and operates the WyIC, a local not-for-profit organization planning to run the facility on a break-even basis to reduce tenants’ costs. 

Tenants

The site’s first tenants are expected to take occupancy in the second quarter of 2023. The National Energy Technology Laboratory will focus on applied research to produce and use clean energy resources and recover rare earth elements. Another tenant will be the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources to focus on advanced carbon processes. 
The University of Wyoming and Gillette College also plan to train technicians for jobs in advanced carbon processes and operations on the site as well. 

Why Campbell County?

The site’s location is significant because the Powder River Basin holds 165 billion tons of recoverable coal. The region’s coal contains high percentages of rare earth elements, particularly in the coal ash materials produced at the region’s power plants. The demand for such elements has significantly increased for cell phones, wind turbines, electric cars, magnets and more. U.S. businesses get as much as 97% of their needed rare earth element resources from China today.

Additionally, finding alternative uses for these coal products offers an opportunity for Wyoming to enter green energy discussions. The WyIC also provides solutions to the region’s future economic success by keeping jobs and innovation within the state.

The WyIC is just one example of the region’s potential for clean energy development. Atlas Carbon uses local coal and a patented process to produce activated carbon and sorbent products. The Integrated Test Center is a public-private enterprise aimed at determining commercially-viable uses for carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. 

Be part of the solution

For further information on the Wyoming Innovation Center or to pursue tenant opportunities, contact Energy Capital Economic Development today.