Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project

The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) is a regional network of grassroots community organizations that includes 15,000 members and 39 local chapters. This general operating support grant enables WORC to help its member groups succeed by providing training and coordinating work to build sustainable Western communities that balance economic growth with the health of people and stewardship of their land, water, and air resources.

The Powder River Basin accounts for nearly half of all coal mined in the United States. Coal burned from the basin accounts for about 14 percent of all carbon emissions in the country. Recent studies have also shown that taxpayers receive far less than they should in payments for the coal, and, because of the downturn in the industry, three of the four companies that mine in the Powder River Basin have gone bankrupt over the last year, potentially burdening taxpayers with billions of dollars in reclamation responsibility. This renewal grant to the Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project will support its efforts to reduce coal mining in the Powder River Basin and ensure taxpayers are not put at risk.