U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, a Republican and the first woman to represent Wyoming in the Senate, is an advocate for state sovereignty, energy independence, and limited federal intervention. In a recent interview to discuss her views as Chair of the Senate Western Caucus, she addressed a range of issues, from federal land ownership to clean energy innovation.
What’s clear is that Sen. Lummis is committed to the values and industries of the West. For Lummis, land conservation must emphasize collaborative decision-making.
"The federal government owns enough land in the west,” she told Federal Newswire. Given that the federal government under virtually all Administrations has sought to expand its holdings, she believes local concerns should become the top priority. With any contemplated expansion, "federal agencies should only do so with the support of states and local communities,” she said.
Senator Lummis also raised concerns about federal resource management plans, which she sees as another tool for locking up lands. "While this administration ignores local leaders and stakeholders, the Senate Western Caucus recognizes how invaluable their insight can be," she said, advocating for more locally informed, commonsense legislation to ensure the prosperity of Western states.
Lummis is particularly concerned that the federal government's land management strategies have adversely impacted key Wyoming industries. "We have watched the Administration launch aggressive land grab campaigns that have locked up millions of acres of public lands, including at the expense of Wyoming's ranching, energy, and tourism industries,” she said.
She is very aware of the New York Stock Exchange's proposal to monetize natural assets like land and water, and she is not a fan. "The New York Stock Exchange's proposal wasn't about sustainability,” she said. Instead, she calls the plan, "brazen greenwashing.” She also believes the setup "would have awarded significant capital to so-called environmental groups that exist to sue the federal government every time it issues a permit.”
Lummis argues that such plans pose a threat to Western industries, which are already facing regulatory challenges. "We should be focused on empowering domestic energy producers, not further limiting their production and growth potential," she added.
Looking ahead to the priorities of the Western Caucus, Lummis expressed her deep frustration with what she sees as federal overreach, particularly in energy policy. "The Administration has launched an all-out assault on our western way of life, drowning our landowners and industries in a sea of red tape,” she said, adding that the approach is "to appease climate change extremists.”
According to her, regulatory burdens have worsened permitting backlogs and stifled energy production. Under her leadership, she says the Western Caucus will focus on "clawing back these ruinous policies" to restore U.S. energy dominance and promote rural development, including efforts to expand rural broadband access.
Energy independence remains a cornerstone of Lummis' focus, and she reaffirmed her support for an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy. "Anti-American energy policies have not just forced Americans to shell out more than ever for their gas and energy needs, but have proved to be one of the greatest threats to our national security," she said.
For Lummis, the key to achieving energy dominance lies in emerging technologies, and in defending traditional energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas. "It is our job as lawmakers to eliminate the roadblocks” to expanded domestic energy production, she said.
What about the future of clean energy? Lummis expresses optimism, particularly about advancements in nuclear power. "I am excited to see so many new nuclear reactors being built throughout the country, including in Kemmerer, Wyoming," she noted, praising nuclear energy as a reliable and clean energy source. Unlike renewable sources that depend on weather conditions, Lummis emphasizes that nuclear provides "baseload energy," which is a better source of consistent energy.
Lummis says her legislative priorities for the coming year will focus on reducing federal overreach and supporting the energy and land use industries that define her home state.
