WE Soda, the London‑based producer of trona and soda ash, announced plans to cut its Wyoming workforce from about 850 to 500 over the next two years. The first wave of layoffs, affecting 274 workers in January, includes both unionized and non‑union positions ranging from administrative assistants to engineers and miners, according to oilcity.news.
The company’s reduction is tied to a shift from underground mining at its Westvaco trona mine to a drill‑and‑pump solution‑mining method. In parallel, WE Soda has applied for a $13 million grant from the state’s newly created Energy Dominance Fund to build a high‑pressure natural‑gas supply connection from the Williams MountainWest Overthrust Pipeline to its Westvaco operations. The grant would help the company transition from coal supplied by the nearby Kemmerer mine to natural gas for firing its processing boilers.
Union President Marshal Cummings, who also works at WE Soda and leads United Steelworkers Local 13214, publicly urged the state to “freeze these funds until Wyoming workers are assured they have a place to work at WE Soda.” Cummings argued that if the state can allocate nearly $13 million to a corporation, it should also find ways to protect the workers who have built the company’s success.
State officials have opened a public comment period on the grant request, which ends on Monday. The Wyoming Energy Authority, which administers the fund, recommended approval of WE Soda’s application before the layoff announcement, noting the grant would support a project deemed beneficial to Wyoming’s energy needs. The authority will forward its recommendation and any public comments to Governor Mark Gordon, who has sole discretion to approve, deny, or condition the grant.
Governor Gordon’s office declined to comment on the grant request until after the comment period, while Governor‑elect Eric Barlow also refrained from commenting. Both officials issued a joint statement expressing concern for the miners and families in southwestern Wyoming and pledging to bring resources to address the reductions.
The Wyoming Democratic Party joined the union’s call to freeze the grant, describing the layoffs as a “massive blow” to the local economy and criticizing the company for prioritizing profits over people. Sweetwater County Commissioner Robb Slaughter echoed the sentiment, noting his “heart goes out” to affected families and emphasizing the need to protect both industrial development and the interests of county taxpayers.
WE Soda’s grant request is one of three recommended for approval by the Energy Authority, alongside a $20 million grant to Nucleon Fuel for a uranium conversion facility in Campbell County and a $15 million grant to Williams Companies for a compressor‑station project in Carbon County. The Energy Dominance Fund, authorized by the Wyoming Legislature for up to $105 million, is intended to create jobs and support economic growth.
What’s next: The public comment period closes on Monday. After reviewing comments, Governor Gordon will decide whether to approve the $13 million grant, potentially with conditions tied to worker protections.
Sources: oilcity.news
