GILLETTE, Wyo. — Gov. Mark Gordon has revealed the name of the D.C. law firm chosen to help the state of Wyoming in upcoming coal litigation.
According to a release from Gordon’s office, the Wyoming Energy Authority, or WEA, has retained the firm Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Shreck, based in Washington, D.C., to help with litigation related to new EPA rules regarding coal-fired power plants.
The firm, according to its website, is the country’s top-ranked law firm for lobbying based on a recent industry study. The press release from Gordon’s office also notes the former U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernheardt is a part of the firm.
Gordon said in a statement that the selection would help Wyoming combat the federal changes that impact Wyoming’s resources.
“Wyoming is marshaling all available resources to fight the Biden Administration’s ongoing attack on our coal industry, our workers, and ultimately our communities,” Gordon said. “It is a testament to former legislatures that they saw fit to set aside additional funds to supplement the outstanding work already being done by our Attorney General’s office.”
The firm is experienced in natural resource litigation and will be able to assist the state in a variety of coal-related matters, including “efforts or actions against regulations or laws that impermissibly impede Wyoming’s ability to export coal; cause the early retirement of coal-fired electric generation facilities located in Wyoming; or that result in the decreased use of Wyoming coal or the closure of coal-fired electric generation facilities that use Wyoming coal,” according the release.
$300,000 in funds had previously been allocated by Gordon for Coal Litigation Funds to the WEA in May, with the agency opening a request for litigation in early June, according to the press release. This funding is in addition to the $800,000 allocated to the Wyoming Attorney General to prepare for an upcoming Challenge to the Buffalo Resource Management Plan Amendment, for which the firm Consovoy McCarthy has been contracted to assist.
