Energy isn’t just part of Natrona County’s history — it’s in its DNA.
For generations, energy has put people to work, supported families, fueled local businesses, and helped build the community we call home. From the rise of the Salt Creek oil field to the growth of natural gas, uranium and the industries that support them, Natrona County has never just participated in Wyoming’s energy economy; it’s helped lead it.
Now, Natrona County sits at an important crossroads. As the energy industry evolves, we have an opportunity to help shape what’s next.
An Energy Legacy Worth Building On
Today, Wyoming remains one of the country’s leading energy producers. The state generates roughly 12 times more energy than it consumes, and nearly one in six Wyoming jobs is tied to the energy industry.
As ANB Bank President Nick McNamee put it, energy remains “head and shoulders above any other industry” in Wyoming.
That foundation gives Natrona County something many communities don’t have: generations of experience, infrastructure, businesses and people who understand what it takes to power an economy.
As new opportunities emerge across the energy industry, Natrona County has the foundation to turn opportunity into continued economic growth.
More Energy. More Opportunity.
Oil and gas remain an important part of Wyoming’s economy, but opportunities are expanding across the energy sector. New technologies, emerging industries, and a more diverse energy economy have the potential to create new jobs and strengthen the industries already here.
McNamee sees that opportunity clearly: “Wyoming has the capacity to respond to those energy needs.”
Responding to the needs of the energy industry puts Natrona County in an exciting position, not because it needs to become something different, but because it has an opportunity to build on what it already does well.
What could the next generation of energy mean for our businesses, our workforce, and our community? It’s a conversation worth having.
Growth That Works for Natrona County
Growth doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. It means asking good questions, weighing opportunities carefully, and making informed decisions about what makes sense for Natrona County.
As Greyson Buckingham of DISA Technologies, a successful Casper-based mineral processing and environmental remediation company, shared, “When we invite or welcome companies in, it’s a snowball effect. But when we shun, it scares those companies that looked at Wyoming, away. We need to look at things from an objective lens. Ask ourselves. ‘What could happen when we don’t let fear take over?’”
New investment can support existing businesses. New industries can create new customers. New jobs can give more Wyoming families a reason to build their futures here.
This doesn’t mean losing sight of what and who we already care for. Thoughtful growth can happen while continuing to serve the people and businesses that already call Natrona County home. Simply put, eyes are on Wyoming. Companies are looking west to invest, expand and put down roots, and Natrona County has an opportunity to consider which opportunities can strengthen what’s already here. It’s not about growth for the sake of growth, it’s about making informed choices that boost our businesses, create economic diversity, and make sense for the future.
Powering the Next Generation
Perhaps the biggest opportunity isn’t measured only in businesses recruited or dollars invested. Perhaps it’s measured in reasons to stay.
Many Wyoming-born residents leave the state before reaching their thirties, a trend with implications far beyond population loss. The University of Wyoming’s 2025 Economic Forecast identifies the continued outmigration of college-educated young people as a challenge to Wyoming’s long-term growth, shrinking both the workforce and the pool of future entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
Creating more opportunities for the next generation to build careers, raise families, and put down roots here means thinking about what Natrona County’s economy can become. That means creating meaningful careers, supporting businesses with the potential to grow and compete, and building an economy where the next generation can see a future for themselves.
For more than a century, Natrona County has helped power Wyoming. Now, it’s our turn to help shape what it powers next. Stay informed. Join the conversation. Help build a future that gives the next generation even more reasons to call Natrona County home. Because Natrona County means business.
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