Federal Government Cancels $17 Million in Grants for Wyoming Oil and Gas Research Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has canceled $17 million in grants supporting multi-year research projects at Colorado State University (CSU) focused on oil and gas efficiency in Wyoming. This is part of a broader termination of 321 DOE awards totaling nearly $8 billion.

CSU's Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center, led by Dan Zimmerle, has been conducting research to improve emissions detection and operational efficiency in oil and gas fields, particularly in the Upper Green River Basin, which has faced significant air quality issues. The canceled funding is expected to lead to job losses at CSU and pauses ongoing research critical for producers in Wyoming. Other energy-related grants affecting Wyoming projects have also been terminated or remain in limbo, while the Environmental Defense Fund has filed a lawsuit against the DOE regarding these funding cuts.