Boom 2.0: A Special Edition Of Open Spaces
Wyoming is no stranger to the cycles of energy development. The state has experienced dozens of booms and busts over the years. With oil prices falling rapidly, Wyoming’s energy landscape may be shifting once again.
On that note we invite you to join us this Friday, December 19th, for a special edition of Open Spaces when we'll air 'Boom 2.0', a look at the impacts of Wyoming's boom-bust economy: now and down the road. 'Boom 2.0' airs this Friday at 3pm, and Sunday at 1pm.
The Boom: Short Term Gain, Long Term Pain
In case you hadn’t heard, the United States has been experiencing an oil boom for the last five years. The boom has helped the country’s economic recovery and created thousands of jobs for people in states like North Dakota, Wyoming and Texas. But although booms are often heralded for the economic opportunities they provide…they also have a darker side.
UW Professor Hopeful About State's Boom-Bust Future
Wyoming Public Radio’s Caroline Ballard sat down with Phil Roberts, a history professor at the University of Wyoming, to understand more about the history of booms and busts in Wyoming. He says it's a cycle the state has gone through many times before.
A Tiny Wyoming Town, Stuck In (Boom) Traffic
If you ever take Highway 59 between Douglas and Gillette, you might have noticed that recently there are more state troopers… giving out more citations. In addition to this increased police presence, Governor Matt Mead has proposed nearly 22 million dollars in safety upgrades. Why? Because since 2010, accidents on this section of Highway 59 have nearly doubled. But lawmakers are just now taking action.
How A Service Station In A Wyoming Boomtown Learned To Live With(out) The Energy Industry
For a little shop like the Bill Store an energy boom can be a blessing. Nothing is better for a small business than lots of customers with cash to burn. But when wells close and energy workers head out of town the businesses that remain have to figure out how to survive.
Housing Shortages in the Boom: A Tale of Two Wyoming Towns
If you move to Wyoming to work in oil or gas you probably know to expect long hours and a big paycheck. You might even know to expect to be sleeping in your car. Housing is a perennial issue in boomtowns, one that pits the needs of energy workers against the interests of long term residents and there’s no easy fix.