Sweetwater County, WY Business Overview
Energy companies play major role in local economy
Some of the largest energy producers in the world are in Sweetwater County, which also is home to Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport and several top retailers.
In This Article
Natural Gas & Oil
Halliburton is one of the largest producers of natural gas and oil in the world. The company’s Rock Springs site is where many engineers train for a year before being assigned to oil rigs.
Trona & Soda Ash
The world’s largest and purest deposits of trona — used to manufacture soda ash for commodities like glass, textiles and paper — are in Green River. Ciner Wyoming (formerly OCI Resources) produces soda ash to manufacture products like sodium percarbonate and hydrogen peroxide, and Solvay Chemicals in Green River mines trona used to reduce acid gas emissions in industries ranging from electric power generation to cement manufacturing. Tata Chemicals North America operates a manufacturing facility consisting of an underground trona mine and a 24/7/365 surface refining plant that processes the ore into soda ash.
Utilities
PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the U.S. The company gathers its energy capacity from a variety of sources, such as coal, hydro, renewable wind power, gas-fired combustion turbines, solar and geothermal. A subsidiary of PacifiCorp is Rocky Mountain Power, a provider of electricity to 67,000 Wyoming customers, including many in Sweetwater County.
Chemicals
Tronox is a leading Sweetwater County chemical company involved in agricultural, industrial and consumer markets. The company uses advanced technologies to improve the delivery of medications, enhance foods and beverages, protect crop yields, fertilize lawns and power batteries.
Uranium
Lost Creek ISR is a uranium mine in Sweetwater County, whose uranium is used as a fuel to generate electricity in nuclear power stations throughout the United States. The abundant local element also is used by the military to power nuclear submarines and in nuclear weapons.
Coal
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Point of Rocks, Black Butte Coal Company produces high-energy and low-sulfur coal. Company officials say they are developing research to make coal a cleaner-burning fuel.
Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport
Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport offers daily service to Denver on United Express. Avis and National car rental companies are also on site. In late 2016, the airport began a $5.5 million upgrade project that will take about 18 months to complete.
Retail
In Rock Springs, White Mountain Mall‘s 40 stores include Herberger’s, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Ross Dress for Less. A Star Stadium 10 theater is part of the complex. Also in Rock Springs is a new Sportsman’s Warehouse that opened in September 2016 and employs 35 people. The store stocks name-brand hunting, fishing, camping and shooting merchandise.