It'll affect schools and teachers and part of those families that are working in other industries

“It’ll affect schools and teachers and part of those families that are working in other industries that aren’t going to be able to do that as well,” said Sweetwater County Treasurer Mark Cowan.

His words land as the first tremor from a major economic shift in Wyoming. Wyoming Public Media reported that early next year, 350 workers will lose their jobs at the Westvaco trona mine near Green River. This move is projected to slash an estimated $4 million annually from the State Permanent Mineral Trust Fund, a significant blow to a state deeply reliant on the mineral wealth of Sweetwater County.

The Core of the Matter: A Mine’s New Direction

The decision comes from London-based WE Soda, which purchased the mine in 2025. On Wednesday, the company announced a fundamental change in its operations. It is shifting from traditional mining to a method known as solution mining. In this process, trona will be dissolved in water underground, a technique the company claims is more cost-effective than surface extraction. This technological pivot isn’t just a change in equipment; it signals a deliberate reduction in production. WE Soda also plans to cut soda ash exports to Asia and South America, a direct response to the low-cost soda ash flooding the market from China.

The transition is not immediate. This new operational model will be phased in over the next two years, but the human and financial impact will begin to be felt much sooner.

The Human Toll on Ground Zero

For Sweetwater County, the news is particularly acute. Cowan, the county treasurer, stated that the community alone will see a revenue loss of one million dollars. He emphasized the critical role the industry plays for the entire state. “I think as a whole, the state really relies on what happens out of Sweetwater County. We’ve been one of the primary economic drivers for the state,” he said. The loss of these 350 jobs will ripple through local economies, impacting not just the miners themselves but the families, schools, and businesses that depend on their spending.

Cowan framed the situation as a call to action for local leaders. “We cannot continue to be hamstrung by regulation or rules or things that are beyond our control,” he said, urging a focus on developing new economic opportunities to absorb the shock.

“Soda ash mining is a vital, legacy industry for Sweetwater County and Wyoming. Today’s announcement regarding the reduction in miners is terrible news for this cornerstone industry.” Eric Barlow

This direct assessment comes from a joint statement issued by Governor Mark Gordon and Governor-elect Eric Barlow. The bipartisan statement emphasizes the gravity of the situation, noting the mine's role as a "cornerstone industry." Both leaders expressed concern for the miners and their families and confirmed that the state is working with the federal government to strengthen the soda ash market going forward.

Trona’s Unseen Role in Our Daily Lives

While the headlines focus on layoffs and lost revenue, the story is fundamentally about a mineral most people have never heard of: trona. Trona is the primary raw material for soda ash, and soda ash is a component in countless everyday products, from the glass in your windows to the paper in this publication and the soap used to wash it. It is Wyoming’s single largest export, making the industry’s health a direct indicator of the state’s economic vitality.

The switch to solution mining and the reduction in exports are not isolated corporate decisions. They are calculated moves in a global marketplace dominated by Chinese production, which has driven down prices and squeezed profit margins for Western producers. WE Soda’s strategy is to adapt by cutting costs and focusing on efficiency, a move that, while potentially securing the mine’s long-term viability, comes at the immediate cost of hundreds of local jobs.

The state’s response, through the joint statement from Gordon and Barlow, signals that the leadership views this as more than a corporate transition. It is a challenge to the state’s economic foundation. The question now is what new opportunities can be cultivated to replace the millions in lost revenue and the livelihoods of hundreds of workers.

It'll affect schools and teachers and part of those families that are working in other industries

Governors Condemn the Layoffs

Governor Mark Gordon and Governor-elect Eric Barlow have issued a joint statement condemning the layoffs. “Soda ash mining is a vital, legacy industry for Sweetwater County and Wyoming,” they wrote, calling the news “terrible news for this cornerstone industry.” The governors pledged to work with the federal government to strengthen the soda ash market.

Market Pressures Result in Layoffs

The layoffs are a direct result of global market pressures. WE Soda is cutting jobs and exports in response to low-cost soda ash from China flooding the market. The company is shifting to solution mining, a cheaper method, to remain competitive.

Mine Will Transition to Solution Mining

The Westvaco mine will begin its transition to solution mining over the next two years. The 350 layoffs are scheduled for early next year. The state and county officials are now focused on finding new economic opportunities to replace the lost jobs and revenue.