Leading Light
A champion of rural electric coops, Bill Patrie is helping communities in North Dakota reclaim their power to address an energy crisis.
coal
Congress Cancels Locally Developed Land Use Plan Amendment for Powder River Basin
Photo by Jessica Plance. Using the Congressional Review Act, Congress has now tossed aside years of public input from Wyoming ranchers, Tribes, property owners, and recreationists. This week, Congress used the Congressional Review Act to cancel the Buffalo Field Office … Continued
One Big Betrayal of a Bill
Loss of healthcare coverage, increased insurance premiums, longer emergency room wait times, smoggy air, higher energy prices, and a deepening hunger crisis are all what we can expect from the budget reconciliation bill. by Michael Nelson and Sarah Hunkins, WORC’s … Continued
45Q Tax Credit: Subsidizing Waste and Fraud Through Carbon Capture
The federal government has created a program that’s ripe for corporate abuse while endangers rural communities on the taxpayer’s dime. By Claire Deuter and Sarah Hunkins Carbon capture and sequestration projects have been proposed throughout the country at an increasing … Continued
The Administration’s Fixation on Coal Makes No Sense
With no market demand for coal, why does the BLM want to resume leasing in the Powder River Basin? by Lynne Huskinson, WORC board member The Trump administration has been fixated on resuscitating the coal industry, long in steep decline. … Continued
A Devastating Bill Becomes Law
Our best hope for turning our country around lies in rural grassroots organizing. We have to step it up. By Dr. Barbara Vasquez, WORC board chair In my lifetime, there have been few national events that have saddened me more … Continued
The Federal Government is Waging War on Our Public Lands
A full-scale assault threatens to turn public lands over to fossil fuel companies and deny us the right to defend our communities and the places we love and depend on. By Dr. Barbara Vasquez, WORC Board Chair I live in … Continued
WORC members push back as Trump administration moves to reopen coal leasing in the Powder River Basin
Despite energy markets rapidly moving toward cleaner, cheaper sources, the Trump administration is steering in the opposite direction. On April 8th, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding coal leasing on public land and minerals. The EO directs … Continued
Huge Win: Biden Administration to End Coal Leasing in Powder River Basin
This decision, after years of outcry from local residents and litigation, will protect communities, air, water, and the climate from the harms of mining and burning six billion tons of highly polluting coal. On May 16th, 2024, the Biden administration … Continued
EPA protects coal communities by requiring coal power companies to clean up their coal ash ponds
Above: Coal ash at the generating plant in Colstrip, Montana, is kept in water-filled ponds. 91% of coal ash ponds around the U.S. leak into local aquifers contaminating groundwater. After pressure from WORC members and allies, the Environmental Protection Agency … Continued