These mines produce coal with high Btu's , low sulfur, and low ash, which means that much of the coal produced is compliant with the Clean Air Act . When coal is burned to produce electricity, the sulfur content combines with oxygen to make sulfur dioxide. The greater the sulfur content of the coal, the greater quantity of sulfur dioxide that is formed. When sulfur dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere, it can become part of the chemical cycle that produces acid rain. Because Powder River coal has such a low sulphur content, it is in demand for use by electric power companies all over the United States.
More coal is produced in the state of Wyoming than in any other state in the United States.
According to the Gillette, Wyoming Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Wyoming's Powder River Basin produces one-fifth of all the coal produced in the United States annually. One of the reasons is because of the low sulfur content of the coal found in the Powder River Basin. Coal is a major industry and generates over 55 percent of America's electric power. Coal is the power behind your electricity. Every time you turn on a light or turn on your computer, it is possible that you are using coal, maybe even Powder River Coal.