Energy

A January meeting in Phoenix had been previously postponed.

Miller says the company anticipates beginning construction next year.

Mineral extraction employment grew 1.5 percent from last year. Related industries also increased.

According to a state report, Wyoming coal mines added five full-time jobs in 2017 after shedding nearly 1,000 workers during the 2015 downturn.

Wyoming also sees wind flow generally different than that of the western plains, where many of Colorado's existing farms are built.

Texas gained three rigs, Louisiana and Pennsylvania each increased by two and Oklahoma added one.

Alaska and California each lost one rig.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. It bottomed out in May of 2016 at 404.