Cloud Peak Energy’s Mine Awarded Nation’s Most Prestigious Reclamation Award for River Project

Cloud Peak Energy Inc. (NYSE:CLD), one of the largest U.S. coal
producers and the only pure-play Powder River Basin (“PRB”) coal
company, today announced its Cordero Rojo Mine, located near Gillette,
Wyoming, received the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (“OSMRE”) 2015 Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation
Award for the successful restoration of the Belle Fourche River. The
award will be presented at the National Mining Association’s awards
ceremony in Washington, D.C., on November 9, 2015.

Through design and reconstruction, the Cordero Rojo Mine relocated a
portion of the Belle Fourche River and reclaimed the stream channel to
provide approximately the same conditions as premining. The reclaimed
stream channel is stable from erosion with abundant grass cover, and the
aquatic life has been restored including fish and macro invertebrates.
This is a clear indication of the successful restoration of a stream to
its original channel and its overall ecological health.

“The work done at the Cordero Rojo Mine is exceptional, and this award
highlights the strong commitment of everyone at Cordero Rojo and Cloud
Peak Energy to returning land to a condition as good if not better than
before mining began,” said Colin Marshall, President and CEO of Cloud
Peak Energy. “Cloud Peak Energy has a strong record of using innovative
approaches to successfully reclaim the land after mining is complete.
That the federal government has recognized our mines with its highest
honor in four of the last six years is a tremendous accomplishment.”

In addition to the 2015 award, Cloud Peak Energy’s mines received the
Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Award in 2009
(Spring Creek Mine), 2010
(Antelope Mine), and 2014
(Antelope Mine). The mines received the awards for various projects
reclaiming previously mined areas and successfully reintroducing native
plants. The Company also received the OSMRE Good Neighbor Award in 2012
for efforts supporting communities around their three mine operations.

“The Belle Fourche River project represents a great example of surface
mining reclamation,” added Kyle Colby, General Manager of the Cordero
Rojo Mine. “Moving and returning the Belle Fourche River required
significant planning in coordination with regulatory agencies and proper
execution. To receive this award for our work means a lot.”

Cordero Rojo mined and shipped approximately 34.8 million tons of low
sulfur coal in 2014, making it the third largest coal mine by production
in the United States last year. Since its inception, the mine has
shipped more than one billion tons. Coal mined from Cordero Rojo is
primarily shipped to electric utilities in the western, Midwestern and
southeastern United States. Also in 2014, Cordero Rojo Mine received
approval for final, phase-three bond release on more than 900 acres of
permanently reclaimed land from the Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality.

For photo of successful reclaimed channel of the Belle Fourche River
running through Cordero Rojo Mine click here.

About Cloud Peak Energy^®

Cloud Peak Energy Inc. (NYSE:CLD) is headquartered in Wyoming and
is one of the largest U.S. coal producers and the only pure-play Powder
River Basin coal company. As one of the safest coal producers in the
nation, Cloud Peak Energy mines low sulfur, subbituminous coal and
provides logistics supply services. The Company owns and operates three
surface coal mines in the PRB, the lowest cost major coal producing
region in the nation. The Antelope and Cordero Rojo mines are located in
Wyoming and the Spring Creek Mine is located in Montana. In 2014, Cloud
Peak Energy shipped approximately 86 million tons from its three mines
to customers located throughout the U.S. and around the world. Cloud
Peak Energy also owns rights to substantial undeveloped coal and
complimentary surface assets in the Northern PRB, further building the
Company’s long-term position to serve Asian export and domestic
customers. With approximately 1,600 total employees, the Company is
widely recognized for its exemplary performance in its safety and
environmental programs. Cloud Peak Energy is a sustainable fuel supplier
for approximately four percent of the nation’s electricity.

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