Sec Form 4 Filing - BARRETT MICHAEL @ CLOUD PEAK ENERGY INC. - 2015-03-15

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person BARRETT MICHAEL 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CLOUD PEAK ENERGY INC. [ CLD] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Exec Vice President & CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) 505 S. GILLETTE AVE. 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 03/15/2015 (Street) GILLETTE, WY82716 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/15/2015 F 5,162 ( 1 ) D $ 5.88 73,509 D Common Stock 03/15/2015 M 5,915 A $ 5.88 79,424 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Performance Units ( 2 ) 03/15/2015 M 5,915 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Common Stock 5,915 $ 0 5,915 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other BARRETT MICHAEL 505 S. GILLETTE AVE. GILLETTE, WY82716 Exec Vice President & CFO Signatures /s/ Lisa Kish, attorney-in-fact for Michael Barrett 03/17/2015 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Reflects the number of shares of common stock withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of the Reporting Person's tax withholding obligation upon the vesting of restricted stock. ( 2 )Each performance right represented a contingent right to receive one share of Cloud Peak Energy Inc. common stock. The performance rights vested 3 years from the date of grant (which was 03/15/12) upon Cloud Peak Energy's achievement of Performance Goals, which were based upon Cloud Peak Energy's relative and absolute total shareholder return. These achievements resulted in a payout of 48% of the target which was originally reported on a Form 4 filed on 3/19/12. There is no expiration date for performance rights.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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