Our View: Change the focus

Now is not the time to be fretting about the eventual closure of the Jim Bridger Power Plant.

Yes, the first unit closure is scheduled to take place in 2023, a little more than four years away. However, what we should be doing is plotting a future for Sweetwater County that doesn’t focus on minerals.

There are those who believe the possibility exists the closures won’t happen; plans will change and Rocky Mountain Power will see value in its coal power plants and keep them open. While we admit that is a possibility, we also think it’s an unlikely scenario. RMP has already planned beyond coal using solar energy and the millions of dollars RMP anticipates it will save in the switch will likely not dissuade them.

Also, while we applaud the cities and county for pushing forward with the Middle Baxter Road industrial project, focusing solely on bringing large industrial activity to the area near the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport is akin to placing all of our eggs into one economic basket. It will likely be decades before real development occurs out there. Simply put, Sweetwater County’s leaders should be expanding their horizons.

We think our leaders should put more investment into developing economic activity using the area’s natural beauty. There are amazing hiking and mountain biking opportunities throughout the area and especially near Green River. With some investment, we think the Wilkins Peak Trail System could be extended and Green River itself could be made more friendly to bicycle travel. Partnering with the Bureau of Land Management could allow for more developed hiking or biking trails to be created throughout the Red Desert. To aid in this effort, we plan to increase emphasis on the outdoor adventures available to visitors in our next travel guide.

While we admit there isn’t any way of replacing the highly paid jobs the plant and nearby mines supply, expanding outside of that industry would create some economic benefit. It would also help sell the area to outdoor-minded people looking for work in the trona industry and might be attracted to the high wages provided, but don’t see much to do outside of the job. Yes, the future looks dim for the Jim Bridger Power Plant in the coming decades, but that doesn’t mean Sweetwater County’s future is less bright. We just need to start looking for opportunities outside the coal industry.