It is no secret that Wyoming’s economy is largely based on energy commodities. The two biggest ones are coal and natural gas. The state ranks #1 and #2 in production of those two vital national energy sources.

         Lately, both have been involved in price spirals that have put a slight damper in the ongoing boom being enjoyed by Wyomingites.

         While much of the country has been languishing, Wyoming has enjoyed its greatest boom ever over the last 10 years.

         And since our boom is literally fueled by fuel, you would think we would be continuing to enjoy these good times. But there are some grim statistics on the horizon.

         Domestic coal use has been dropping since the national economic bust of 2008 and, without creating international markets to ship to, the industry will continue see decreases in the amount of coal needed.

         There really is an international coal market. For example, India has 173 coal-fired plants either under construction or on the drawing board. Every single plant will be fired with coal. 

         For the past several years, it has been projected that China was bringing on-line a new coal-fired power plant each week.

         So much for the USA trying to clean up the world’s atmosphere. But that is another story.

         Both India and China have some sources of coal in their own countries, yet their leaders are actively seeking international sources. This means an entire system of transporting coal including ports and railroads to the mines in Wyoming and Montana needs to be expanded.

         This is good news for Wyoming. It could be anticipated that despite the fact some one-eighth of the coal-fired plants currently in use in the USA may be turned off in favor of cheap natural gas-powered plants, there still is that international market. Peabody Energy recently announced in five years the worldwide demand for coal would grow by a billion tons.

         As an aside, we can foresee a time soon when ocean-going vessels would be loaded to the brim with Wyoming coal and heading off into the sunset for the power-hungry Orient. Perhaps one of these monster ships would be named “The Wyoming?” Oops, that’s already happened before.

         The biggest wooden ship ever built was called the Wyoming, and it was used to haul coal up and down the east coast a century ago. Look it up. But I digress.

         Seems like such a short time ago when natural gas was selling at $14 per mcf (thousand cubic feet) and Wyoming was rolling in the dough from severance taxes. But now that spot market is under $3.

         The good national news is with new drilling methods (fracking), companies can find gas almost anywhere. States like Ohio have even become producers. 

         Our recent Legislature saw its members actually making budget cuts and having to choose between which expensive project to adopt or cancel as money appeared to be just slightly more limited than in previous years. The energy severance tax gravy train is not over yet, and I don’t think it will be over in our lifetimes. It was good for our lawmakers to be more prudent than they had been in recent sessions.

         Compared to coal, natural gas is viewed as a very clean gas.

         We have been promoting vehicles powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in this column since 2008. Finally we are seeing some of the state’s vehicles switching over and Gov. Matt Mead is pushing this development.

         It would seem to me just about everything in Wyoming that could be powered by CNG should be, as we have so much of that fuel here.

         Wyoming is still the leading producer in the country for uranium as the nuclear power industry is staggering along. Until the tsunami in Japan that wrecked the Fukushima nuclear plant, the prospects of a uranium boom in the US were possible. Not so hot now.

         Yet we will continue to mine and refine uranium here because of all the existing plants still going around the world.

         Our state has yet to really boom from the new oil well developments in SE Wyoming, but, with the price of oil staying high, that could benefit the state, too.

         As the country’s biggest energy producer and the state most dependent on high energy prices for our economic livelihood, these developments in energy usage across the world will have a big impact on our lives out here in the middle of flyover country.

         Quite a number of readers of this column encouraged me in the last several years to write a book expanding on one of my most popular columns Wyoming’s 7 Greatest Natural Wonders.

         And so, we are now working on it and hope to have it ready for Christmas.

         And like most “coffee table” books, it will be expensive. Tentative retail price will be $39.95 or more. It will be worth it.

         The sub-title of the book is “and 33 other wonderful places” in the Cowboy State.

         Thus, it will center on those primary seven wonderful places but also include photos and stories of 33 other places from around the state, too.

         The seven “greatest” as detailed in my original column include:

         Yellowstone National Park

         Grand Teton Park and Jackson Hole

         Devils Tower and the Wyoming Black Hills

         Thermopolis Hot Springs

         The Red Desert

         The vast North Platte River system in Wyoming

         South Pass

         Added to that list are other major categories such as national forests/wilderness areas, Wyoming’s wildlife and the state park system.

         It will not be hard to come up with 33 other wonderful places. My problem will be what to leave out!

         Producing a book like this is very costly and we are looking for underwriters and sponsors.

         One idea is to provide books that individuals, organizations or businesses can use as Christmas gifts for their clients. The books would have a special cover that lists them as a sponsor of the book.  Persons interested in such sponsorships should contact me at bsniffin@wyoming.com or Box 900, Lander, WY 82520. A minimum number of books would need to be purchased at a wholesale price to participate in such a program.

         The book will be full of wonderful photos, stories, maps and historical items about the places.

         Nancy and I plan to load up our motorhome and travel the state shooting photos of these sites plus doing stories of them. I already have a collection of 3,000 color slides that I have taken over the past 42 years but will be looking for anyone and everyone to provide additional outstanding photos, maps, old pictures, stories and other items of interest that could be included. Digital images are preferred.

         Some of the best photographers in the state have indicated a desire and willingness to participate including Randy Wagner of Cheyenne, who is among the best who ever lived plus local photogs Scott Copeland, Ron Mamot and Michelle Motherway. Three other outstanding Wyoming photographers have expressed interest and I expect a number of additional top amateurs to contribute some amazing individual pictures. We hope to also tap into the extensive photo libraries of the Wyoming Division of Tourism and the Lodging Tax boards across the state.

         Besides the 7 major natural wonders, here is the beginning of a list of additional “natural wonders” across the state, as provided by readers of this column:

The gangplank near Cheyenne, Veduwoo near Laramie, Aspen Alley, Silver lake, Devil’s Gate, Red Canyon and Sinks Canyon near Lander, Shell Falls and Sheep Mountain outside of Greybull, the headwaters of the Green River at Square Top Mountain near Pinedale, Hell’s Half Acre, Wind River Canyon, Dubois badlands, Wapiti Valley, the Chugwater Formation with its red rock especially at Flaming Gorge, Elk Mountain, Saratoga Hot Springs, Fossil Butte near Kemmerer and Togwotee Pass.

         Also: Cloud Peak Wilderness, Ayer’s Natural Bridge, the Vore Buffalo Jump, Como Bluff, the hole in the wall, Crowheart Butte, Star Valley, Boar’s Tusk, Killpecker sand dunes, the Bighorn/Wind River system, Teapot Rock, the Pumpkin Buttes, Tensleep Canyon, Brooks Lake Creek Falls, the Loop Road, Crazy Woman Canyon, the Wyoming Mountain Range, Lake Marie, Cirque of the Towers, the Stonehenge rock formation, the Snake River System, ancient rock outcrops near Rawlins and many more.

         In my research on this project, I have been looking at other recent “coffee table books” about Wyoming and there have not been many statewide books of this type done in the past few years.

         It is time for another one and we are thrilled to be doing it.

         So, it looks like a busy summer. I am sure that we will be writing a number of columns about our experiences around the state.

         This project is a big challenge and has a difficult and rapidly approaching series of deadlines. In Wyoming it makes a lot of sense to have a book like this ready to go for Christmas gifts, so that is our goal.

     Stay tuned.

         Out here in Big Wyoming (or the Big Empty, as some folks see us), we seem to have the ability to create some very original people. Not only in politics or business or the environment but also in entertainment.

         Two of my favorite Wyoming original entertainers are Kip Attaway and Jalan Crossland.

         Most recently, we attended an event here in Lander where old Kip was singing, “My liver hates my guts” and other almost unprintable originals. You just can’t help laughing so hard, well, you beg for more. If you are a teetotaller, he probably comes across as pretty offensive.

         While admitting that Nancy and I do not get out so much anymore, it should be stated that my experiences are probably limited. But that won’t keep me from mentioning two characters who are unique and just funny as heck. And both are pure Wyoming.

         Attaway bills himself as “America’s premier cowboy comedian” and watching him in action can be a gut-busting experience. 

For example, he hooked himself up to an old-fashioned weight-loss machine (those old rigs with a belt that goes around your waist and then vibrates) and then he breaks into a Johnny Cash song, imitating the late singer’s vibrato style with his voice. 

         He also did one of the funniest imitations of Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones ever seen. Even got the big lips right!

Historically, his first hit was the ballad called “Rock Springs to Cheyenne” which talks about the travails of Wyoming roads in the wintertime.

He claims his top hit that most everyone in Wyoming knows starts out like this: “Thermopolis has a hippopotamus . . . “from the oft-seen TV commercial. He also often talks a lot about performing at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Some folks might be offended by his insistence of appearing to be drinking during the performance, but it does not affect his delivery or wit. One of his most popular songs is Hair of the Dog, which further brags about issues with too much drinking.

         Attaway is famous for his hats and costumes and on this night, he was wearing a baseball hat that read “Betty Ford Clinic.” Outrageous.

         In real life, Attaway has a different story to tell. He is divorced but very devoted to his daughter who is wheelchair-bound. He grew up in Texas but spent much of his adult life in Wyoming, most lately in Jackson. In recent years, he travels all over the country giving performances. Next gigs are in Idaho, Montana and Las Vegas, for example.

         And then there is Jalan.

         Up in little Ten Sleep, the pride of that area is Jalan Crossland.

         An expert banjo player and also a wit as a song writer, he and his two bandmates put on a helluva show with lots of high energy and many references to living in a mobile home.

         He has toured both solo (such as Attaway) and also with a small band. He offers up stories where truth is stranger than fiction, says one reviewer, as he sings about hobos, tires, trailer courts, strippers, motorcycles, pickup trucks and politicians.

         He first picked up a banjo and copied his uncle Dan in learning to be one of best in the country. In 1997, he won second place for his picking at the Winfield National Guitar Picking national contest.

         His web site says he spent most of this past winter on a sailboat in the Caribbean but is back booking dates around Wyoming this spring.

         One of his signature tunes is “Trailer Park Fire” which features drummer Andy Phreaner of Lander playing the Nebraska Whackadoo. Amazing. You can see it on YouTube.

         But as good as those two are, Wyoming is full of great bands and singers. The Bar J Wranglers of Jackson come to mind, for example.

         Here in Lander, we have three great singers who also go charging around the region providing high quality entertainment:

-      Steve Gora is a one-man show with tremendous guitar work and just does a wonderful job with a whole schedule of wonderful songs.

-      Kevin McNiven is a wonderful songwriter and country music performer. A tremendous voice, his rendition of Charlie Daniels’ song of Wyoming On My Mind is even better than the original, I think.

-       “Buffalo Bill” Boycott is a wonderful folk singer but has made a living performing historical musical events, most recently as a living, breathing reincarnation of the legendary Buffalo Bill. He also recently has been playing with the legendary New Christy Minstrels.

         “So Bill,” my Billings friend Steve Fenter confronted me, “you Wyomingites are getting really serious about us stealing all your water!”

When I looked back at him with a puzzled look on my face, he continued: “Well, you are going to buy an aircraft carrier to protect your borders. We assume that is to protect yourself from the north?”

         His comments had been prompted by a Billings Gazette column poking fun at the Wyoming legislature for a bill that appeared three weeks ago attempting to protect our state in the case of meltdown of our national government

         That bill was quite seriously put forth by Rep. Dave Miller (R- Riverton) but created some kind of stir in Cheyenne. Rep. Kermit Brown (R-Laramie) offered up an amendment that would have provided, most of which was tongue in cheek, money to buy an aircraft carrier.

         Ed Kemmick, a Gazette columnist on March 3, used the issue to poke fun at Wyoming for wasting valuable time with silly projects.

But to his credit, he had blame all around. He also poked fun at his own state legislators who earlier had proposed the state adopting a new way of paying the state’s expenses.

         Kemmick then spent most of his ink poking fun at the Montana legislature including a part that talked about the state paying its bills “in-kind,” meaning even coal.

         He then concluded that if bills could be paid in coal, Wyoming would probably really be able to buy an aircraft carrier and Montana had better stay vigilant.

         • Meanwhile over in Thermopolis the old boys in Pat Schmidt’s coffee group had some thoughts about the aircraft carrier-laden bill.

         Schmidt, who says when he joins the gang, the average age drops to about 75, wrote his friend State Sen. Bill Landen (R-Casper), about Bill’s criticism of some of the legislative measures this year as sounding like they had been created by coffee clubs. The Thermop coffee group resented being put in the same category as legislators and wanted the senator to know that IF Wyoming went ahead and bought such a carrier, they would like to anchor it in Boysen Reservoir and turn it into a casino. Now that would be some casino!

         • And speaking of casino country, here in Fremont County, basketball has been on people’s minds.

         John Soundingsides led his Wyoming Indian High School Chiefs to the state 1-A championships by scoring lots of points.

         John earlier in the season scored 65 points in a 118-42 victory against Shoshoni. Reportedly not since Lander’s Hugh Friday scored 50 points back in the 1960s has there been such a prolific shooter in the boy’s ranks. Of course, Hugh did not have the three-point shot which helped pad Soundingsides’ totals.

         Another member of the Soundingsides family, Diana, nailed 14 three-pointers in a game in the last decade, reports my former colleague Ernie Over.

         • One of the largest circulated magazines in the world is Reader’s Digest.

Dubois’ Leota Didier was featured last year in the magazine for being the quintessential “good old Wyoming cowgirl.” Congrats.

         • Gov. Matt Mead told an interesting story at the BIG WYO banquet recently at the Governor’s Tourism Conference.

         Tourism Director Diane Shober had asked him to phone the producer of the hottest show on TV, Modern Family, and encourage them to come to Wyoming to film their first show of the 2011-2012 season.

         Mead made the call and during the conversation the woman said he had not needed to bother, she “had already been sold on Jackson more than 20 years ago.”

         “And,” she asked, “Are you related to a wonderful gal named Mary Mead from Jackson?”

         Somewhat surprised, Mead said that yes, that was his late mother.

         The producer had been totally sold on Jackson Hole during a visit there a long time ago when she met Mary and had been given the full Wyoming hospitality treatment.

         Quite an amazing and fortuitous coincidence.

         That show was a huge hit for ABC, Jackson Hole and Wyoming tourism.

         • The national Mensa organization of geniuses has introduced some new words to our vocabulary:

         “Intaxication” which is euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

         “Bozone” is the substance surrounding dumb people that stop bright ideas from penetrating.  The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

         “Dopeler Effect” is the tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.