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
After decades of grassroots organizing, BLM’s new oil and gas bonding standards will help ensure taxpayers and frontline communities no longer have to suffer from the environmental impacts of abandoned wells or pay for well cleanup. In the first significant … Continued
The elective pay provisions in the IRA offer rural electric co-ops, municipalities, and other entities an opportunity to receive direct cash funding to build renewable energy projects. An often overlooked provision of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that can have … Continued
Above: an “orange cloud,” toxic gasses sometimes created when blasting overburden in coal strip mines, drifts on the breeze, endangering communities downwind. WORC members living near coal mines applaud a decision by the Office of Surface Mining to again allow … Continued
USDA’s newest P&SA update is a solid step towards reigning in discriminatory, retaliatory, and deceptive behavior by transnational meatpackers. Now, packers are lobbying Congress to get the rules defanged. On March 5th, 2024, the USDA announced the finalization of its … Continued
While we’re a little behind in getting this out, we couldn’t be more proud of the work we accomplished in 2023! The Western Organization of Resource Councils made remarkable strides in 2023. We helped our members get a lot of … Continued
ABOVE: Don’t know where your beef comes from? You’re not alone. USDA’s new guidelines for voluntary labeling of beef restore some transparency to our food system, but it will take an act of Congress to ensure consumers know where their … Continued
We’re excited to introduce WORC’s new executive director, Deb Love. By: Paula Antoine, WORC Board Chair It is with great enthusiasm that the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) announces the appointment of Deborah Love as our new Executive Director. … Continued
New animated short film shows how rural electric cooperatives with over 42 million members can lead the transition to clean energy. This week, WORC as part of the Rural Power Coalition (RPC) celebrated the launch of a new animated short … Continued
After a decade of grassroots organizing, EPA finally orders a stop to routine venting and flaring of methane from new sources. Routine venting and flaring of gas has been polluting our atmosphere since oil wells were first commercialized back in … Continued