Gillian Malone photo at Clean Power Plan hearing.

Voices Raised in Support of Clean Power Plan

Far from accepting the foregone conclusion that the EPA will follow the coal industry’s wishes and repeal the Clean Power Plan regardless of what the people say, members of Powder River Basin Resource Council, Northern Plains Resource Council, and Dakota … Continued

Beth Kaeding testifies in opposition to proposal repealing Clean Power Plan

Testimony on Proposed Repeal of the Clean Power Plan

My name is Beth Kaeding, and I live in Bozeman, Montana. I traveled here today to speak on behalf of the Western Organization of Resource Councils, which is a network of grassroots organizations in 7 western states. We have more … Continued

bonding coalbed methane well, oil and gas bankruptcy, delinquent mineral taxes

Wyoming Counties Face $42 Million in Delinquent Mineral Taxes

In the face of a statewide budget crisis, mineral extraction companies owe Wyoming taxpayers over $42 million in county taxes unpaid on their operations throughout the state. Last month, Powder River Basin Resource Council released a new report entitled Tax … Continued

coal royalty loophole

5 graphs explain coal in Trump’s first year

This report is the result of a collaboration between Appalachian Voices and the Western Organization of Resource Councils to assess the effect of Trump Administration policies on economic growth in coal-producing regions. By Colin Lauderdale & Erin Savage One year … Continued

coal bankruptcy, coal industry, coal strip mine act

One step forward for the coal industry, two steps back

For every step forward in 2017, the coal industry saw at least two steps backward. The slow unraveling of the industry will take time, but each passing month begs certain questions about the future more and more urgently. Will coal … Continued

diversifying economy and revenue panel

Wyoming panel focuses on diversifying economy and revenue

Powder River Basin Resource Council (PRBRC) featured a panel conversation on Wyoming’s energy and economic future early in November at its Annual Meeting in Sheridan. Panelists included Rep. Mike Madden, Chair of the Wyoming House Revenue Committee; Rob Godby, Director … Continued

RECLAIM Act

RECLAIM Act Cleans Up Coal Mines and Creates Jobs

I’m a coal miner from Nucla, Colorado, where I work for Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation. We are currently reclaiming New Horizon North Mine. In August of 2016, my coworkers and I were informed by Tri-State Generation and Transmission that … Continued

RECLAIM Act advocates

RECLAIM Act advocates meet with Congressional offices

Last month, WORC members from three states joined advocates from across the country in Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress in support of the RECLAIM Act, HR 1731. Gene Wirtz from Underwood, N.D., Kate French from Bozeman, Mont., and Roger and … Continued

clean power plan repeal

Groups react to repeal of Clean Power Plan

In the midst of one of the worst wildfire seasons the West has ever seen, and as Houston, the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast begin to rebuild after an unprecedented four consecutive devastating hurricanes, the U.S. Environmental … Continued

coal bankruptcy, coal industry, coal strip mine act

Will Strip Mine Act Live Up to its Promise?

As we mark 40 years with the federal coal strip mine act, there has never been a more crucial moment for its promise—that every acre of land mined for coal will be reclaimed—to be fulfilled. On August 3, 1977, the … Continued