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 OF SECURITIES
                                                                                  
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                      

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

Jones Bruce E
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)
Sr. VP Technical Services
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

505 S. GILLETTE AVE.
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

3/14/2017
(Street)

GILLETTE, WY 82716
(City)        (State)        (Zip)
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Trans. Date 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 3. Trans. 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   3/14/2017     F    1425   (1) D $3.80   13792   (4) D    
Common Stock   3/14/2017     M    3624   (2) A $3.80   17417   (4) D    
Common Stock   3/14/2017     F    1521   (3) D $3.80   15896   (4) D    

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Trans. Date 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 4. Trans. 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 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(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) 3/14/2017     M         7106      (2)   (2) Common Stock   7106   $0   0   D    

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 units.
( 2)  Each performance unit represented a contingent right to receive the value of one share of Cloud Peak Energy Inc. common stock, which award was originally reported on a form 4 filed on 3/18/2014. The performance units vested 3 years from the date of grant (which was 3/14/2014) 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 51% of the target, which target number was originally reported on the Form 4 filed on 3/18/2014.
( 3)  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 performance units.
( 4)  This total does not include restricted stock units granted to the Reporting Person in 2015, 2016 or 2017 as vested restricted stock units may be paid in shares, cash or a combination of shares and cash, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Jones Bruce E
505 S. GILLETTE AVE.
GILLETTE, WY 82716


Sr. VP Technical Services

Signatures
/s/ Bryan J. Pechersky, attorney-in-fact for Bruce E. Jones 3/16/2017
** Signature of Reporting Person Date


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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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