Green River local news summary
Week of September 28 2025
Bill Robinson Appointed New Fire Chief
Rocky Mountain Power Grants to Fund Tank Restoration and Water-Saving Project
TransWest Express Granted Major Permit Extension for Transmission Line
New $44 Million Airport Terminal Celebrated as Community Milestone
Fire Restrictions to be Lifted Across Sweetwater County
Commissioners Tour National Lab Amid Growing Interest in Nuclear Energy
County Secures Impact Funding Agreement for Dry Piney Project
Bill Robinson Appointed New Fire Chief
GREEN RIVER - City Administrator Reed Clevenger officially announced that Bill Robinson has accepted the position of Fire Chief, with his appointment effective September 15, 2025. Clevenger expressed his confidence in the new chief and stated that he looks forward to working with him. The administration plans to work with Robinson on structuring the department for the future, including the scope of battalion chief duties, with further action expected in the coming months.
Rocky Mountain Power Grants to Fund Tank Restoration and Water-Saving Project
GREEN RIVER - The city council formally accepted two grants from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation. The first grant will provide funding to help paint and restore the historic military tank, fulfilling part of the city's agreement to maintain the monument. The second grant will support a Natural Vegetation Project aimed at reducing municipal water usage by creating areas with native plants. This environmental initiative will be developed in partnership with the local school district.
TransWest Express Granted Major Permit Extension for Transmission Line
SWEETWATER COUNTY - The Sweetwater County Commission unanimously approved a significant construction permit extension for the TransWest Express transmission line project. The variance allows the company’s permit to be extended until December 31, 2030, far exceeding the standard 18-month limit. Planners noted the extension is necessary due to the massive scale of the 732-mile high-voltage line, which requires coordination with multiple federal agencies and adherence to wildlife protection windows that shorten the construction season. Company representatives stated that construction has already begun in other counties and is expected to start in Sweetwater County in 2026.
New $44 Million Airport Terminal Celebrated as Community Milestone
SWEETWATER COUNTY - Commissioners celebrated the grand opening of the new commercial terminal at the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport, calling it a “first class” facility that will serve as a gateway to the region. The total project cost was about $43.3 million, and officials emphasized that the local investment was only $1.25 million, with the remainder funded through federal and state grants secured by the airport board. Governor Mark Gordon and U.S. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman were in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new holding room inside the terminal was officially named in honor of Airport Director Devon Brubaker for his years of work on the project.
Renée Jean
Fire Restrictions to be Lifted Across Sweetwater County
SWEETWATER COUNTY - Following a recommendation from the County Fire Warden, the Board of Commissioners agreed to let the current Stage 1 fire restrictions expire as scheduled on September 17. The decision was based on cooler temperatures, morning dew, and increasing fuel moisture levels that have reduced the immediate fire danger. The Fire Warden noted that the BLM will also lift its restrictions for Sweetwater County in coordination with the county's decision. Neighboring counties are taking similar actions, though restrictions may remain in place in areas with active fires like Lincoln and Sublette counties.
Commissioners Tour National Lab Amid Growing Interest in Nuclear Energy
SWEETWATER COUNTY - Several commissioners attended a tour of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy. The all-day event provided an in-depth look at nuclear research, advanced reactors, and the process for safely handling and storing spent nuclear fuel. Chairman Keaton West described the tour as "fascinating" and highlighted the immense energy potential of nuclear power. The visit comes as Wyoming explores new energy opportunities, including the TerraPower nuclear facility in Kemmerer, and as the county faces increasing demands on its existing power grid.
County Secures Impact Funding Agreement for Dry Piney Project
SWEETWATER COUNTY - Sweetwater County has successfully negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sublette, Lincoln, and Uinta counties regarding industrial siting impact funds for the Dry Piney project. Commissioner Island Richards reported that Sweetwater County will receive 10% of the impact funding if Sublette County’s application is approved, and 20% if it is not. While a significant portion of the project's construction workforce is expected to reside temporarily in Sweetwater County, officials noted that the county’s actual impact assistance application will likely be for a much smaller percentage, highlighting inconsistencies in the state’s current funding formulas.
MOU Is For Blue Spruce’s Dry Piney Helium & Carbon Sequestration Project
SUBLETTE COUNTY — Blue Spruce Operating’s Dry Piney project near LaBarge would develop new gas-production pads, pipelines and a helium/natural-gas processing complex alongside acid-gas injection wells to permanently store captured CO₂. Designed to produce more than 800 million cubic feet of liquid helium per year, the facility is among North America’s largest planned helium projects and aims to begin operations in the second half of 2028; two CO₂ capture trains are expected to sequester up to 4.5 million metric tons annually. The project sits on the LaBarge Anticline, has entered federal scoping with the Bureau of Land Management, and has received $6 million from Wyoming’s Energy Matching Funds program.
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