BLM Approves Utah Wildcat Facility Expansion Amid Energy Emergency

Under President Trump's national energy emergency declaration, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has expedited approval for Coal Energy Group 2, LLC to expand the Wildcat Loadout Facility in Utah. This accelerated 14-day environmental review process allows the facility to add unloading areas, a tank farm, and loading systems, boosting its capacity to transload around 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Utah's Uinta Basin to Gulf Coast refineries. The expansion aims to strengthen domestic energy infrastructure and reduce reliance on foreign oil, aligning with the administration's energy security goals. However, the project has faced opposition from environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers like Senators Michael Bennet and Representative Joe Neguse, who argue that the expedited review bypasses necessary public involvement and environmental safeguards. BLM officials emphasize balancing infrastructure development with stewardship of public lands. The site, originally a coal loading facility now primarily used for oil, has been seeking expansion for several years, with recent approval marking a continuation of the Trump administration's push to fast-track energy projects.