Cloud Peak Energy Updates Quarterly Shipments to 20.1M Tons for Q2; Sees Shipments at 90M for FY; Cuts Forecast for Mid-Point of FY EBITA Range

Cloud Peak Energy

, one of the largest U.S. coal producers and the only pure-play Powder River Basin (“PRB”) coal company, today announced second quarter 2013 shipments and updated its annual Adjusted EBITDA guidance. Results for the quarter are expected to be announced on July 30, 2013. Conference call details are set forth below. Second quarter 2013 shipments from our three company operated mines were 20.1 million tons compared to 21.1 million tons in the first quarter of 2013, and 20.1 million tons in the second quarter of 2012. For the full year 2013 the company continues to expect shipments to be approximately 90 million tons. Based upon preliminary data, the company currently expects Adjusted EBITDA(1) for the second quarter of 2013 to be lower than the first quarter of 2013. As a result, the company is lowering the mid-point of its full year Adjusted EBITDA guidance range by $15 million, so that full year Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be between $210 million and $250 million. Second quarter shipments from the company's three mines were lower than the first quarter of 2013 by approximately 1 million tons, primarily due to weather interruptions, unplanned power plant outages at a small number of major customers, and the impact of production interruptions during planned maintenance downtime. Costs per ton rose as a result of spreading fixed costs over lower shipments during a quarter when several major planned annual maintenance jobs were also completed. With continued low Newcastle benchmark prices, our logistics segment made limited additional contribution to Adjusted EBITDA. Colin Marshall, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “While the second quarter shipments were lower than we expected, we are now in the position where we expect to be able to run at higher shipment rates and therefore lower costs per ton in the second half of the year.” This release is based on the company's current preliminary estimates of its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. Actual results are subject to revision based upon the finalization of the company's quarterly financial closing procedures and the completion of the company's full interim financial statements. Conference Call Details The company expects to issue results for the second quarter 2013 on July 30, 2013. A conference call with management is scheduled at 5:00 p.m. ET on July 30, 2013 to review the results and current business conditions. The call will be webcast live over the Internet from our website at www.cloudpeakenergy.com under “Investor Relations”. Participants should follow the instructions provided on the website for downloading and installing the audio applications necessary to join the webcast. Interested individuals also can access the live conference call via telephone at 877-474-9504 (domestic) or 857-244-7557 (international) and entering pass code 66467422. Following the live web cast, a replay will be available at the same URL on our website for seven days. A telephonic replay will also be available approximately two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 888-286-8010 (domestic) or 617-801-6888 (international) and entering pass code 28302656. The telephonic replay will be available for seven days. (1) Defined later. About Cloud Peak Energy® Cloud Peak Energy Inc.

is headquartered in Wyoming and is one of the largest U.S. coal producers and the only pure-play PRB coal company. As one of the safest coal producers in the nation, Cloud Peak Energy specializes in the production of low sulfur, subbituminous coal. 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 near Decker, Montana. Cloud Peak Energy also owns rights to substantial undeveloped coal and complementary surface assets in the Northern PRB, further building the company's long-term position to serve Asian export and domestic customers. With approximately 1,700 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 4% of the nation's electricity.