Meet Eric Johannessen, former Fort Peck tribal police officer, business owner, and founder of “Change the Rez”. This month we would like to introduce Eric Johannessen, former Fort Peck tribal police officer and current business owner on the Fort Peck … Continued
USDA guts anti-competition rules from Packers and Stockyard act, opening the door for powerful corporate agribusinesses to drive independent livestock producers out of business. For over two decades, cattle producers across the seven-state WORC region have organized to challenge the … Continued
The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has been critical to kick-starting a clean energy industry that’s cheaper, cleaner, and provides more jobs. So why is it set to expire? Renewable energy growth in the US has been remarkable over the … Continued
A look back at our top ten 2019 blog features on coal, oil and gas, food and agriculture, and the West. Philosopher George Santayana famously said, “those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” In 2019 we … Continued
Above: Coal plants like the one above dispose of thousands of tons of toxic coal ash in unlined pits that leak contaminants, polluting vital groundwater. WORC network fighting to stop utilities from abandoning their cleanup obligations. Coal ash, the waste … Continued
Regional cooperation is the key for western coal communities weathering the coal market contraction. This post originally appeared on Dakota Resource Council’s blog. The Beulah public forum “Building Resilience in Coal Country”, hosted by Dakota Resource Council, was planned to … Continued
For our 40th Anniversary, we hear from Annika Johnson, of Colorado’s Youth Voter Initiative about the importance of getting involved early. Annika Johnson participated in Western Colorado Alliance for Community Action’s Youth Voter Initiative during the 2018 election cycle. She … Continued
WORC founder Pat Sweeney tells the story of four decades of grassroots organizing around western issues like responsible fossil fuel development, agriculture and food, renewable energy, and rural prosperity. Not only does he detail forty years of winning on issues, he also describes what grassroots organizing might look like over the next generation.
WORC set out to investigate what the western coal industry’s continued decline means for cleanup of the hundreds of square miles of coal mines that stretch from North Dakota to Navajo Nation. As long-time coal companies are replaced by unknown firms without track records in the region, what has happened to the companies guaranteeing mine cleanup?
Congress misses golden opportunity to bring transparency to consumers and economic justice for rural communities in NAFTA 2.0. The U.S. House voted to approve NAFTA 2.0/USMCA on December 20, 2019 and the agreement is expected to pass the U.S. Senate … Continued