From Office of Governor Mark Gordon <[email protected]>
Subject An Update from Governor Mark Gordon, July 16, 2025
Date July 16, 2025 10:21 PM
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"*From the Office of Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon*"











Governor, Congressional Delegation and Secretary of Energy Celebrate New Rare Earth Mine
Ramaco Ribbon Cutting

Governor Gordon joined U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Wyoming's Congressional Delegation to celebrate the opening of the nation’s first rare earth mine in more than 70 years and the first new coal mine in Wyoming in over 50 years. At the ribbon cutting for the Brook Mine Carbon Ore Rare Earth project, the Governor said the mine represents a shift from dependence on hostile nations for rare earth elements. The project will use innovative technologies to produce concentrated mixed rare earth oxides and other critical minerals from
mining the coal resources. 

In a one-on-one meeting with Secretary Wright, the Governor and the Secretary discussed the growing demand for power in the United States, driven by data center and Artificial Intelligence. The Governor and Secretary Wright agreed on the need to keep existing coal-fired power plants operating, as well as the need for energy innovation to meet energy operators need for reliable, dispatchable power. 

 

Governor Wright

 

*Watch a video of the Governor's remarks at the ribbon cutting here [ [link removed] ]*

*See KTVQ Billings TV coverage of the event here [ [link removed] ]*



*“We need to bring all this back to this great country. We have been asleep. We have been asleep, and now we are awake because of our President.”*

*  *"- Governor Gordon"

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Governor Unveils National "CHANGE" Initiative to Education Policymakers
School visit

The Governor launched his Chairman's Initiative, "Community Hubs for Addressing Needs for Greater Education" (CHANGE), at the Education Commission of the States (ECS) National Forum on Education Policy in Salt Lake City. The initiative reflects the Governor’s long-standing belief that empowering communities is key to creating sustainable, student-centered education systems.

Building on the success of Wyoming’s Reimaging and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) Initiative, CHANGE is designed to help communities across the country craft and advance their own education visions, while equipping state policy makers to better align systems that are responsive, innovative and future-ready.

CHANGE Initiative launch

The RIDE Initiative is currently being implemented in 20 Wyoming school districts, emphasizing collaboration with students, parents, and community members to meet each learner’s unique needs. Governor Gordon has visited districts across the state, witnessing firsthand how this approach fosters personalized learning, greater community engagement, and smarter long-term investments.

*READ MORE HERE [ [link removed] ]*

*“Even the best-designed reforms can stall out if they aren’t grounded in the lived experience of educators, families and students. I’m excited to highlight what we’re learning in Wyoming and explore new ways to strengthen local ownership in education."*

                          " -Governor Gordon"                 







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Kicking off America's 250th and Celebrating Statehood Day





Liberty Bell

Wyoming’s 135th Statehood Day unites all Wyoming residents as we proudly look back on our remarkable history and see how our founder’s vision for a strong, thriving state remains true.
Members of the public as well as Wyoming elected officials joined the Governor at the ribbon cutting for the new Capitol exhibit “Portraits of History” and at the rededication of Wyoming’s replica of the Liberty Bell. More celebrations and events will take place around the state in the coming year. *Learn more here.  [ [link removed] ]*

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2nd Amendment Friendly Wyoming Welcomes New Firearms Factory

KelTec celebrated the grand opening of their KelTec West factory in Rock Springs with Governor Gordon joining National Rifle Association Vice President and CEO Doug Hamlin and company officials. The Governor spoke about Wyoming's support for firearm manufacturing businesses and received a model PR57 pistol, the first firearm produced by KelTec in Wyoming.

Keltec West Grand Opening
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*Governor Gordon Discusses Budget Session, Education, and Influence of Out-of-State Money on Wyoming during "Let’s Talk Wyoming" Podcast*

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon joined former state legislator and podcast host Amy Edmonds on *"Let’s Talk Wyoming"* [ [link removed] ] to discuss challenges of the upcoming budget session, K-12 education, and the influence of out-of-state money in Wyoming politics. Edmonds raised the issue of misinformation and its potentially damaging impact on the state, as recently covered in the Governor’s *"On Brand"* [ [link removed] ] online publication.

Let's Talk Wyoming [ [link removed] ]

Lets Talk Wyoming

*"“I am a big believer in personal responsibility. I think voters have an obligation to be informed – not just to buy whatever comes through their text messages or anything else. I would love to see us be able to clamp down on this to some degree,” said Governor Gordon. “Some of that’s going to have to be coming out of the state legislature. Some of that’s going to have to come out of the Secretary of State’s office." "*

The Governor and Edmonds’ discussion also covers Wyoming’s energy landscape and diversified energy portfolio, the value of federalism, and the necessity of tweaks to the National Environmental Protection Act *(NEPA [ [link removed] ]).* 

*Listen to Let’s Talk Wyoming Episode 27 here. [ [link removed] ]*

 











Governor Tours Ranches Participating in USDA Voluntary Program Supporting Working Lands and Wildlife
Park County Ranch Tour [ [link removed] ]

Governor Gordon visited four Absaroka Front ranches in partnership with the East Yellowstone Collaborative to showcase the importance of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) stewardship funding that keeps *lands open and wildlife habitat protected.* [ [link removed] ]

“Wyoming leads the country on our migration corridor work because we respect private property owners. We have an incredible opportunity here to continue to cross boundaries and work together on big game migration,” Governor Gordon said.

“The success from these landowner-focused initiatives is evident. Together, we should be celebrating the importance of agriculture and ranching more, as well as the importance of private property to wildlife populations, landscapes, communities and our State’s culture."




IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
CSD Live with Jake [ [link removed] ]

The Governor joined Cowboy State Daily morning talk show host Jake Nichols to discuss how his administration is working to advance fossil fuels, mining, renewables, rare earth minerals and energy technologies. The Governor and Nichols also discussed the significant benefits of reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Cowboy State’s burgeoning trade partnership with Japan and Taiwan; and Wyoming’s diversified energy portfolio. 

*WATCH THE SEGMENT HERE [ [link removed] ]*

*READ More from Governor Gordon  ...*


* *Washington Examiner: NEPA is Broken, States Can Help Fix it [ [link removed] ]*
* *From The Fence Post Gov: Water and Property Rights Still Sacred in Wyoming [ [link removed] ]*
* *On Brand with artist Maggie Booth- Aligned Educational Pathways* [ [link removed] ]





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*Governor Gordon has prioritized innovation in education throughout his term ... We're excited to welcome him to our leadership team as we continue our important work to support states." [ [link removed] ] *- Education Commission of the States President José Muñoz

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WY gov website [ [link removed] ]



PRESS RELEASES [ [link removed] ]



PUBLIC SCHEDULE [ [link removed] ]











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 Wyoming Seal [ [link removed] ]

   



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