Western Organization of Resource Councils
@worcaction.bsky.social
Creating a democratic, sustainable, and just society through grassroots community organizing.
This is a case study in how powerful interests and self-dealing public officials can use secrecy and corporate power to create public health nightmares. #protectwater #cleanwater
'The Precedent Is Flint': How Oregon's Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon data centers constructed in eastern Oregon's farmland have worsened a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
www.rollingstone.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
This is a case study in how powerful interests and self-dealing public officials can use secrecy and corporate power to create public health nightmares. #protectwater #cleanwater
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
The earlier we combat runoff into our waters, the less expensive it is to clean up. Once it gets downstream, the clean-up efforts required of communities to provide clean water are much more expensive. #waterpollution #CAFOs
South Dakota’s water quality debate reflects a bigger US issue:
✅ 80% of tested river stretches fail standards
✅ Ag runoff & animal waste drive E. coli spikes
✅ Downstream communities pay the price
Clean water vs. ag economics—how do we strike the balance?
#CleanWater #AgRunoff #EnvironmentalPolicy
✅ 80% of tested river stretches fail standards
✅ Ag runoff & animal waste drive E. coli spikes
✅ Downstream communities pay the price
Clean water vs. ag economics—how do we strike the balance?
#CleanWater #AgRunoff #EnvironmentalPolicy
SD's water protecters encouraged by farm regulation chatter
Public News Service (PNS) is a member-supported news service that advocates journalism in the public interest. PNS's network of state-based news services distribute high quality public interest news…
app.publicnewsservice.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The earlier we combat runoff into our waters, the less expensive it is to clean up. Once it gets downstream, the clean-up efforts required of communities to provide clean water are much more expensive. #waterpollution #CAFOs
Taking on corporate power, secrecy, and self-dealing public officials is how WORC members protect their communities. This story shows how @oregonrural.bsky.social's grassroots organizing is the spotlight in the darkness of Oregon’s water crisis.
'The Precedent Is Flint': How Oregon's Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon data centers constructed in eastern Oregon's farmland have worsened a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
www.rollingstone.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Taking on corporate power, secrecy, and self-dealing public officials is how WORC members protect their communities. This story shows how @oregonrural.bsky.social's grassroots organizing is the spotlight in the darkness of Oregon’s water crisis.
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
MYTH: Data centers don’t strain the power grid.
FACT: These facilities consume power at an industrial scale, creating new demand pressures that strains grids. The IEA projects their global electricity demand could exceed 1,000 TWh by 2026 - enough to power South Dakota for 85 years! #datacenters
FACT: These facilities consume power at an industrial scale, creating new demand pressures that strains grids. The IEA projects their global electricity demand could exceed 1,000 TWh by 2026 - enough to power South Dakota for 85 years! #datacenters
November 25, 2025 at 3:41 PM
MYTH: Data centers don’t strain the power grid.
FACT: These facilities consume power at an industrial scale, creating new demand pressures that strains grids. The IEA projects their global electricity demand could exceed 1,000 TWh by 2026 - enough to power South Dakota for 85 years! #datacenters
FACT: These facilities consume power at an industrial scale, creating new demand pressures that strains grids. The IEA projects their global electricity demand could exceed 1,000 TWh by 2026 - enough to power South Dakota for 85 years! #datacenters
“How can you live with yourself knowing that the water you put in people’s houses is causing miscarriages or cancer? And they’re still making money on deals for new data centers.” @oregonrural.bsky.social members are protecting water from powerful polluters. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
'The Precedent Is Flint': How Oregon's Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon data centers constructed in eastern Oregon's farmland have worsened a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
www.rollingstone.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM
“How can you live with yourself knowing that the water you put in people’s houses is causing miscarriages or cancer? And they’re still making money on deals for new data centers.” @oregonrural.bsky.social members are protecting water from powerful polluters. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
When ordinary people organize, engage, and take action, they can change the course of their communities and strengthen the foundation of our democracy.
This was certainly true in the Mountain West, where the power of people-driven politics was on full display.
This was certainly true in the Mountain West, where the power of people-driven politics was on full display.
Grassroots Democracy Shines in the West with 2025’s Electoral Victories | WORC
Blog updates Newsletter
worc.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
When ordinary people organize, engage, and take action, they can change the course of their communities and strengthen the foundation of our democracy.
This was certainly true in the Mountain West, where the power of people-driven politics was on full display.
This was certainly true in the Mountain West, where the power of people-driven politics was on full display.
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
While the federal government shutdown threatens #SNAP food assistance benefits, three South Dakota counties have some of the highest percentages of federal food assistance participation in the country.
Three of the nation’s most SNAP-dependent counties are in South Dakota • South Dakota Searchlight
Three South Dakota counties have some of the highest percentages of federal food assistance participation in the country.
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
DRA has long advocated that #SouthDakota should take care of her people. We should prioritize feeding people, period. We, the State, has money in reserves to fill this gap. southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/03/s... #SNAP #hunger
South Dakota won’t tap reserve funds to fill federal food assistance gap, governor says • South Dakota Searchlight
South Dakota’s governor said he does not support using state money to fill a funding gap in a food assistance program.
southdakotasearchlight.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
DRA has long advocated that #SouthDakota should take care of her people. We should prioritize feeding people, period. We, the State, has money in reserves to fill this gap. southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/03/s... #SNAP #hunger
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
We have plenty of evidence that carbon capture doesn't work. Our government is wasting all this money on a scam.
Waste and Fraud in the Billion-Dollar Carbon Capture Tax Credit
Despite a long history of failure and fraud, U.S. leaders are cranking open the 45Q cash spigot for the carbon capture c
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:35 PM
We have plenty of evidence that carbon capture doesn't work. Our government is wasting all this money on a scam.
NEW REPORT outlines threats that idled oil and gas wells pose to rural communities, wildlife, and recreation. #KeepBondingReform to ensure the oil and gas industry–not taxpayers–pays for the cleanup.
www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Press-Releases/2025/A-Growing-Risk-on-Public-Lands
www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Press-Releases/2025/A-Growing-Risk-on-Public-Lands
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM
NEW REPORT outlines threats that idled oil and gas wells pose to rural communities, wildlife, and recreation. #KeepBondingReform to ensure the oil and gas industry–not taxpayers–pays for the cleanup.
www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Press-Releases/2025/A-Growing-Risk-on-Public-Lands
www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Press-Releases/2025/A-Growing-Risk-on-Public-Lands
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
On increasing imports of Argentine beef: This is not in the best interest for South Dakota farmers and ranchers. We raise safe, high-quality beef that should not be undercut by a faulty trade scheme. - Roger Svec, DRA member & cattle producer www.dakotarural.org/dra-statemen... #usabeef #cattle
October 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
On increasing imports of Argentine beef: This is not in the best interest for South Dakota farmers and ranchers. We raise safe, high-quality beef that should not be undercut by a faulty trade scheme. - Roger Svec, DRA member & cattle producer www.dakotarural.org/dra-statemen... #usabeef #cattle
Out today, Rural Policy Action Report, which WORC and many of its member groups contributed to, provides practical steps Congress could take immediately to improve rural people’s lives and deliver lower costs, higher wages, and the freedom to make choices about our own lives. ruralpolicyaction.us
Rural Policy Action
Rural advocates identify priority legislation and executive action that supports working families and strengthens rural communities.
ruralpolicyaction.us
October 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Out today, Rural Policy Action Report, which WORC and many of its member groups contributed to, provides practical steps Congress could take immediately to improve rural people’s lives and deliver lower costs, higher wages, and the freedom to make choices about our own lives. ruralpolicyaction.us
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
SD's ag economy is being toppled by the #tradewar & the feds keep bailing out Argentina ($40 billion!). Let's not wipe out cattle markets too or #SouthDakota will be in a world of hurt quickly southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/senat... #usabeef
Senator 'encouraged' Trump will 'do right' amid backlash over Argentinian beef comments • South Dakota Searchlight
Amid a backlash against President Trump's suggestion to import Argentinian beef, a U.S. senator from South Dakota went to the White House.
southdakotasearchlight.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
SD's ag economy is being toppled by the #tradewar & the feds keep bailing out Argentina ($40 billion!). Let's not wipe out cattle markets too or #SouthDakota will be in a world of hurt quickly southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/senat... #usabeef
A Latino community served by Idaho Organization of Resource Councils suffered a brutal police raid this week. Police zip-tied children & fired rubber bullets into a crowd. Please consider donating to help the traumatized families whose head of households were detained.
givebutter.com/ifaf?fbclid=...
givebutter.com/ifaf?fbclid=...
Idaho Familias Assistance Fund
By Idaho Organization of Resource Councils
givebutter.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
A Latino community served by Idaho Organization of Resource Councils suffered a brutal police raid this week. Police zip-tied children & fired rubber bullets into a crowd. Please consider donating to help the traumatized families whose head of households were detained.
givebutter.com/ifaf?fbclid=...
givebutter.com/ifaf?fbclid=...
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
A 19% hike on #electricity bills would be felt by everyone & would be a flat-out hardship for many who are already struggling to buy groceries or pay rent #ratepayers #utilityrates #energysky
Xcel Energy is proposing a 19% rate hike for nearly 100K electricity customers in North Dakota.
Public hearings are today at noon and 6 p.m. via the Public Service Commission. AARP urges residents to speak up.
#UtilityRates #NorthDakotaEnergy #EnergyEquity #ConsumerCosts
Read now:
Public hearings are today at noon and 6 p.m. via the Public Service Commission. AARP urges residents to speak up.
#UtilityRates #NorthDakotaEnergy #EnergyEquity #ConsumerCosts
Read now:
ND regulators consider 19% utility rate hike
Public News Service (PNS) is a member-supported news service that advocates journalism in the public interest. PNS's network of state-based news services distribute high quality public interest news…
app.publicnewsservice.org
October 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
A 19% hike on #electricity bills would be felt by everyone & would be a flat-out hardship for many who are already struggling to buy groceries or pay rent #ratepayers #utilityrates #energysky
"Sens. Daines and Sheehy did the industry’s bidding and laid waste to years of consultation the BLM conducted with local tribal leaders, ranchers, farmers, outfitters, and other Montanans to ensure that coal mining can co-exist in the Powder River Basin without destroying our livelihoods."
Senate Cancels Locally Developed Land-use Plans That Protected People and Communities in Montana and North Dakota | WORC
Blog updates Newsletter
worc.org
October 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
"Sens. Daines and Sheehy did the industry’s bidding and laid waste to years of consultation the BLM conducted with local tribal leaders, ranchers, farmers, outfitters, and other Montanans to ensure that coal mining can co-exist in the Powder River Basin without destroying our livelihoods."
Oh, the irony. Same day that Senate cancels two land-use plans to allow coal leasing to continue in eastern Montana and North Dakota, this happens. And it happened because coal is now worth essentially nothing-- 1/10 of a penny per ton, as one company priced it at on Monday. #mtpol #northdakota
Trump's major coal sales flop in Wyoming and Montana - WyoFile
Feds postpone Wyoming coal sale despite promise to "revitalize" the industry. Critics say even the coal industry isn't betting big on its future.
wyofile.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Oh, the irony. Same day that Senate cancels two land-use plans to allow coal leasing to continue in eastern Montana and North Dakota, this happens. And it happened because coal is now worth essentially nothing-- 1/10 of a penny per ton, as one company priced it at on Monday. #mtpol #northdakota
“What the hell happened to Daines and Sheehy’s conservatism, to their belief in local control and less government? Their votes today couldn’t be more top-down, more political, or more disconnected from the needs and interests of Montanans who will be most affected by their actions."
Senate passes resolution to open up Montana for coal leasing, now headed to Trump's desk
The resolution would overturn a Biden-era amendment to a Miles City-based resource management plan that halted new coal leases in Montana
billingsgazette.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
“What the hell happened to Daines and Sheehy’s conservatism, to their belief in local control and less government? Their votes today couldn’t be more top-down, more political, or more disconnected from the needs and interests of Montanans who will be most affected by their actions."
"[Canceling the Miles City RMP] gives companies the green light to mine the public coal that sits underneath private property.... Property owners could literally have the earth taken out from underneath us."
#mtpol
billingsgazette.com/opinion/colu...
#mtpol
billingsgazette.com/opinion/colu...
Politicians and industry lobbyists in D.C. shouldn’t be making public land decisions for Montanans | Jeanie Alderson
My family has been ranching in the Powder River Basin since 1889. Over the six generations we’ve been here, we’ve learned how to take care of the land and water
billingsgazette.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
"[Canceling the Miles City RMP] gives companies the green light to mine the public coal that sits underneath private property.... Property owners could literally have the earth taken out from underneath us."
#mtpol
billingsgazette.com/opinion/colu...
#mtpol
billingsgazette.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
Summit knows that SD doesn't want this #CO2 #pipeline & won't let them use eminent domain to force it through. Hopefully the Iowa Utilities Commission holds the line on Summit's permit there & doesn't give them any more wiggle room. #CCS #NotforsaleSD
#SummitCarbonSolutions wants Iowa to remove provisions from the company's pipeline permit that require approval in the Dakotas. Summit said the change would reflect that “additional options for storage and pathways to storage are developing." buff.ly/YG01CXK
Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com
Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com
Summit petitions Iowa regulators to remove Dakotas requirement from pipeline permit • South Dakota Searchlight
Summit Carbon Solutions filed, on Monday, a petition for an amendment to its pipeline permit with the Iowa Utilities Commission.
southdakotasearchlight.com
September 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Summit knows that SD doesn't want this #CO2 #pipeline & won't let them use eminent domain to force it through. Hopefully the Iowa Utilities Commission holds the line on Summit's permit there & doesn't give them any more wiggle room. #CCS #NotforsaleSD
“Those of us who live with this don’t have any say in what happens to the land we own and have leased for generations. [The current Miles City Resource Management Plan] was a collaborative process, and to have that overturned in one fell swoop is stunning.”
www.hcn.org/articles/dec...
www.hcn.org/articles/dec...
Decades of public-lands planning, overturned in a day - High Country News
The House voted to nullify three Bureau of Land Management plans, and critics fear many more could follow.
www.hcn.org
September 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
“Those of us who live with this don’t have any say in what happens to the land we own and have leased for generations. [The current Miles City Resource Management Plan] was a collaborative process, and to have that overturned in one fell swoop is stunning.”
www.hcn.org/articles/dec...
www.hcn.org/articles/dec...
Any day now, the Senate could join the House in tossing out years of local collaboration, negotiation, and public involvement that went into the development of public land management plans in southeast Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska. The effect could "destabilize land management" across the West.
Americans Already Agreed How to Balance Energy Development on Public Land in Their States. The House Just Voted to Undo It
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to upend the way we balance resource development on BLM lands, with RMPs. Here's why.
www.outdoorlife.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Any day now, the Senate could join the House in tossing out years of local collaboration, negotiation, and public involvement that went into the development of public land management plans in southeast Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska. The effect could "destabilize land management" across the West.
“If the only way to keep this industry alive is for the federal government to basically give away coal for free, how does that make any sense?”
Wyoming's massive new federal coal tract not likely to draw high bids - WyoFile
State and coal industry officials want a new 440 million ton coal tract offered for sale, but opponents warn lease won't benefit public coffers like years past.
wyofile.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
“If the only way to keep this industry alive is for the federal government to basically give away coal for free, how does that make any sense?”
Reposted by Western Organization of Resource Councils
Things are not OK in farm country: Karl Adam, SD Bankers Association president said many farmers are looking at losses of $125 - $200 per acre for their corn, due to prices falling from above $7/bushel to less than $4/bushel currently southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/08/28/g... #rural #farming #sodak
Economic advisers say growing crop supply and weakened foreign demand are hurting SD’s economy • South Dakota Searchlight
Farmers are seeing healthy crops, but abundant supply and weakening foreign demand are driving prices down.
southdakotasearchlight.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Things are not OK in farm country: Karl Adam, SD Bankers Association president said many farmers are looking at losses of $125 - $200 per acre for their corn, due to prices falling from above $7/bushel to less than $4/bushel currently southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/08/28/g... #rural #farming #sodak
The One Big Betrayal of a Bill demands we hold our elected officials accountable. For that to happen, our neighbors need to know the harm it's going to bring to rural communities in the West and Midwest. We break it down for you.
worc.org/one-big-betr...
#grassrootsorganizing #communityorganizing
worc.org/one-big-betr...
#grassrootsorganizing #communityorganizing
September 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The One Big Betrayal of a Bill demands we hold our elected officials accountable. For that to happen, our neighbors need to know the harm it's going to bring to rural communities in the West and Midwest. We break it down for you.
worc.org/one-big-betr...
#grassrootsorganizing #communityorganizing
worc.org/one-big-betr...
#grassrootsorganizing #communityorganizing