Cooper McKim
Cooper McKim has reported for NPR stations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and now Wyoming. In South Carolina, he covered recovery efforts from a devastating flood in 2015. Throughout his time, he produced breaking news segments and short features for national NPR. Cooper recently graduated from Tufts University with degrees in Environmental Policy and Music. He's an avid jazz piano player, backpacker, and podcast listener.
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The bipartisan infrastructure bill includes the largest ever federal investment in carbon capture. Coal states hope it could prolong fossil-fuel use, which is why many environmental groups oppose it.
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The country's largest coal producing state is desperate to keep the struggling industry going. Wyoming is investing big to try to clean up coal's carbon emissions, even as many say it's too late.
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Gillette, Wyo. once produced 40% of all U.S. coal, but is now losing half its jobs as coal demand plummets. A nearby town survived a bust in the 1950s and offers lessons.
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Hundreds of coal miners in Wyoming are still out of work two months after their employer declared bankruptcy. It's a moment of reckoning for a town some think relies too much on the energy industry. -
In the past year, utilities have shifted away from coal at near historic rates, a trend that may accelerate as more states push for cleaner energy. Now some lawmakers are stepping in to try and slow down this shift.
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The state of Wyoming, the country's largest coal producer, is the site of the Carbon XPrize in which entrepreneurs compete to capture carbon and turn it into commercial products. -
A judge has confirmed that yet another bankrupt coal company can end health benefits for hundreds of retired miners and their families. Congress is again weighing whether to help them.
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One industry that's been a key supporter of President Trump is no fan of the federal shutdown. Oil and gas drilling is booming, but much of it is on federal land and some worry about a slowdown.
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The Trump administration is offering millions of acres of federal land for oil and gas drilling. It's a boon for some states, but is fueling battles with environmentalists. -
The Trump administration is rolling back regulations on methane, saying that should be left to states. So Wyoming is stepping in with its own proposal, which even some oil and gas companies support.
