Wyoming’s top officials will soon consider a plan to purchase federal land in the Powder River Basin, a move aimed at conserving the state-owned Kelly Parcel in Grand Teton National Park while addressing longstanding frustrations over federal land ownership in Wyoming, Wyo File reports.
The proposal, backed by Acting Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments Jason Crowder, suggests selling the 640-acre Kelly Parcel to the National Park Service for $100 million. Combined with proceeds from three prior sales of Wyoming state trust lands within Grand Teton, this would yield $162 million, which Wyoming could use to acquire federal land in the Powder River Basin. The proposal will be reviewed by the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB), consisting of Governor Mark Gordon and Wyoming’s top elected officials, on Thursday.
Crowder’s memo to the board recommends initiating a federal land acquisition process with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to secure acreage in the resource-rich Powder River Basin. State leaders, including Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, have questioned the outright sale of the Kelly Parcel, advocating instead for a land exchange that would preserve the parcel’s conservation value while enhancing state land holdings elsewhere in Wyoming.
The SLIB agenda describes Powder River Basin land acquisition as a “permissible investment” under state law, which directs proceeds from state trust land sales to support educational beneficiaries by acquiring other federal lands within Wyoming. To proceed, SLIB must confirm that the proposed purchase aligns with its responsibility to Wyoming’s educational trust fund.
The Kelly Parcel, located within the iconic landscapes of Grand Teton National Park, has long been sought by the National Park Service. Since 2010, Wyoming has sold other state-owned lands within the park to the federal government, raising funds under agreements with the U.S. Department of the Interior to secure public access and protection.
In statements leading up to Thursday’s meeting, Superintendent Degenfelder highlighted the potential for Wyoming to leverage the Kelly Parcel in exchange for more than 100,000 acres of federal land.
“An exchange would preserve the Kelly Parcel while also giving us ownership of developable lands that could produce income for generations,” she said.
The Powder River Basin, historically known for its coal, oil, and natural gas resources, presents economic opportunities but faces challenges. While the region remains a leading US coal supplier, market demand has sharply declined as coal-fired power plants are phased out in favor of renewable energy sources. The federal government’s recent proposal to ban new coal leases in the basin further impacts its economic potential.
Wyoming’s consideration of the Kelly Parcel sale marks a balancing act between conservation and revenue needs, as state leaders weigh the trade-offs involved. Wyoming’s SLIB meeting is set for Thursday at 8 a.m., followed by a review by the State Board of Land Commissioners regarding the Kelly Parcel sale.
