Western Organization of Resource Councils

11 Aug

This is the power of grassroots organizing. Hear from organizers and member leaders in the WORC network on how we build people power and bring transformative change to our communities and our country. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNFm...

Do you have a plan to vote? The most effective way to strengthen democracy is to vote—and help others vote. Here’s a checklist you can use to make a plan to vote:

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☑️ I have my county election office’s phone number.

☑️ I have reminded at least five friends, neighbors, or family members to make their own voting plan.

Do you have a plan to vote? The most effective way to strengthen democracy is to vote—and help others vote. Here’s a checklist you can use to make a plan to vote:

☑️ I know where my polling place or ballot drop box is located. Depending on where you live, your ballot may not arrive by Election Day if you mail it today.

☑️ I know how to track my ballot if my state offers ballot tracking.

What happens when a $3 billion data center project goes from announcement to breaking ground in less than a month? Like many communities, residents of Harwood, North Dakota, chose to organize.

Dakota Resource Council quickly helped them organize. They knocked on doors in subzero weather. They surveyed their neighbors. They demanded answers. They drafted new safeguards for large industrial projects. And when the city council rejected their proposal, they took their case to the ballot.

worc.orgThe “Done Deal” | WORC

Read how Harwood residents raised their voices against a data center project that everyone said is a “done deal.” worc.org/the-done-deal/

Meet Jennifer Jones, a Western Colorado Alliance leader who built rural, conservative support for a solar-friendly land-use code in Montrose County, Colorado. Read how her passion for her community and clean energy drove fearless organizing that broke a solar moratorium. worc.org/bridging-the...

Residents of Harwood, ND, were shocked to learn a $3B hyperscale #datacenter project was coming to their town, and it was already a ‘done deal.’ Within weeks, the project went from public announcement to final approval to groundbreaking. worc.org/the-done-deal/

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Join us in Pierre Nov. 6 - 7 for our Annual Meeting: Rooted & Resilient: 39 Years of Building Power. We kick off the weekend at Drifters w/ dinner & keynote address from Austin Frerick, author of Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry. bit.ly/39thAnnMtg #sodak

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utilitydive.comSecond federal judge overturns $7B Solar for All cancellationThe decision in a suit brought by Harris County, Texas, follows a similar ruling last week. A Harris County judge called it “a really important victory for energy resilience.”

Great news! Two judges have both ruled against the EPA's decision to block Solar For All, which was established to help low-income households install rooftop #solarpower www.utilitydive.com/news/second-... #solar4all

Farm Aid 2026 was another epic year of listening to great music, meeting up with old friends, making new ones, and most importantly supporting America’s independent farmers and ranchers. We can’t wait until next year!

Have you ever gone to Farm Aid? What was your experience?

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Thinking that the good people of Aberdeen will have thoughts about this. Literally selling #water to an out-of-state #datacenter.

Dakota News Now@dakotanewsnow.com

The City of Aberdeen has sold more than one million gallons of water over the past two months to an Ellendale, ND data center, according to city officials. Here's what we know ➡️ https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/09/23/aberdeen-selling-water-north-dakota-data-center-officials-say/

WORC is excited to be heading to @farmaid.org again this year. We’ve worked with Farm Aid to support family farmers since the 80s farm crisis, and as farmers struggle under consolidation, we’re honored to show up in solidarity and community.

farmaid.orgHomegrown Stories Archives – Farm Aid

A big part of Farm Aid is telling farmer stories. Check out these stories of WORC members on Farm Aid's website. www.farmaid.org/tag/homegrow...

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😬Well this awkward....state AG says Amendment I does in fact remove Medicaid Expansion despite what legislators thought when passing it. Just vote NO on Amendment I. southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/09/18/b... #medicaid #ruralhealthcare

22 Sept

Communities can work with developers to secure community benefits packages that help companies give back to the communities they impact. See how DRC helped New Rockford, North Dakota, nearly $13 million dollars for local economic development from a wind energy co. worc.org/incentivizin...

22 Sept

Do you think this would work if a data center were sited in your community?

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buff.lyBallot measure could auto-repeal Medicaid expansion, attorney general says in contrast to lawmakers • South Dakota SearchlightA South Dakota Republican legislator who helped send the measure to voters disagrees with text written by the Republican attorney general.

21 Sept

When the legislature & the attorney general disagree on what a ballot measure will do, it's best to vote no. Vote no Amendment I on the ballot.

South Dakota Searchlight@southdakotasearchlight.com

South Dakota lawmakers say a question on the ballot would not end expanded #Medicaid eligibility. It would merely give them authority, they’ve said, to consider ending expanded coverage. But the attorney general says it would repeal Medicaid expansion if federal funding dips. buff.ly/mOXvDxw

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keloland.comAmendment L: Pros and consSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakotans will be back at the polls for the general election in less than two months. One of the ballot questions would change the percentage of votes required…

17 Sept

DRA's Chase Jensen on Amendment L: “We view this third attempt in eight years to make it harder for citizens to change our form of government as disrespectful to South Dakota voters." www.keloland.com/news/local-n... #SouthDakotaelection #L-No #NoonL

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sdpb.orgLongtime DOJ liaison named as South Dakota's MMIP specialistA woman with decades of experience in the justice system is set to serve as South Dakota's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person specialist.

16 Sept

Great to see Big Eagle named to this important South Dakota position as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person specialist www.sdpb.org/crime-courts... #MMIW #MMIP

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insideclimatenews.orgWhat’s Next for Summit’s Carbon ‘Pipeline to Nowhere’? - Inside Climate NewsWhile its Midwest pipeline languishes in legal limbo, Summit Carbon Solutions is urging Iowa regulators to fast-track its next round of hearings.

15 Sept

THIS: “This is a pipeline to nowhere." - Kerry King, Iowa farmer. That's exactly right. Why is the Iowa Utilities Commission even considering hearings for Summit's proposed (somewhere) #CO2 #pipeline? insideclimatenews.org/news/1409202...

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15 Sept

Mark your calendar for Nov. 6-7 in Pierre for our Annual Meeting! Austin Frericks, author of Barons, will be our keynote speaker on Friday night. Registration coming soon.

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newscenter1.tvRapid City Planning Commission tables data center ordinance update for 60 daysTwo years ago, the City Council approved data centers in light and heavy industrial zones.

14 Sept

Proof that people being engaged with their #localgovernment matters! Rapid City is going to vet updates to the #datacenter ordinance with the public before beginning formal review www.newscenter1.tv/news/local/r... #localcontrol #zoning #peoplepower

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kotatv.comRapid City Data Center backlash: EPA Rules, Meta cash & space techThe early evening news on KOTA Territory TV.

8 Sept

Excellent reporting from @kotatv.com on #datacenters & tech in #SouthDakota. Great to see Rapid City working for greater #transparency & public participation www.kotatv.com/video/2026/0...

10 Sept

Colorado shows that county zoning codes can build momentum for responsible renewable energy development while protecting residents and communities. Delta and Mesa counties demonstrate two pathways for shaping local policy around utility-scale #solar. worc.org/the-local-la...

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8 Sept

Julie Burgod calls the South Dakota Attorney General's claim that the investigation is a coincidence "absurd." www.agweb.com/coincidence-... #SouthDakota #cafo #corporatecapture #intimidation

10 Sept

Looking for a job that's both fun and meaningful? This might be for you.

Dakota Rural Action@dakotarural.bsky.social

Work with us! We're hiring a community organizer for our chapter & issue based organizing in Eastern South Dakota. Priority deadline is Sept. 21: www.dakotarural.org/who-we-are/e... #organizing #peoplepower #SouthDakota

4 Sept

Rural communities can garner huge economic benefits when wind projects come to the area—but only if residents come together and demand it. Dakota Resource Council helped New Rockford, North Dakota, get nearly $13M for local economic development. See how: worc.org/incentivizin... #windpower

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sdnewswatch.orgWells drying up at homes and ranches due to heat and droughtLong-term drought conditions have forced rural West River residents and ranchers who rely on wells to scramble to find water.

1 Sept

Very sobering reporting about #water wells drying up West River as aquifer levels drop. Great example of why we shouldn't allow #uraniummining or even exploratory drilling - it wastes millions of gallons of water. We can't afford to lose it.

South Dakota News Watch@sdnewswatch.bsky.social

“I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never seen it this dry, this hot, this long." In rural areas of western South Dakota, the many shallow wells are running slow or have gone completely dry. Read how residents are facing the situation ⬇️ www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota...

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1 Sept

Why is the state of #SouthDakota wasting #taxpayer dollars on "investigating" an Edmunds County farmer who filed a complaint regarding the county's process in approving an #industrialdairy? www.agweb.com/news/busines... #cafo #intimidation #firstamendment

26 Aug

The BLM's oil and gas leasing rule changes are a "gut-punch to split-estate landowners." The Missoula Current points out how shutting landowners out of leasing decisions risks harming ranching operations. missoulacurrent.com/split-estate...

26 Aug

Reduced import costs with no country of origin labeling is a huge handout to meatpackers and foreign beef producers looking to get a foothold in US markets. Meatpackers will rake in huge profits while American farmers and ranchers will be driven out of business.

Dakota Rural Action@dakotarural.bsky.social

The takeaway: "Cattle market reports from Friday showed “crashing futures” because of the Trump announcement." And no country-of-origin-labeling. Oh the packers are cheering. #beef #breakupthepackers #COOL

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24 Aug

The #SouthDakota legislature's repeated attempts to reduce the strength of our #directdemocracy tools is insult to voters. Another amendment to constrain citizen power is on the November ballot boltsmag.org/measures-to-... @boltsmag.org

25 Aug

Great write-up in the North Dakota Monitor about how Sec. Burgum's rollback of oil and gas leasing protections is a gift to the industry borne on the backs of taxpayers and landowners. #corporatewelfare northdakotamonitor.com/2026/08/24/i...

24 Aug

LAST CHANCE to tell Sec. Burgum not to roll back #oilandgas safeguards that protect landowners, communities and taxpayers. BLM’s Rule revision could devastate the rural West and worsen the orphaned well crisis. The comment period closes TODAY (12p Mtn Time). secure.everyaction.com/F53Fp8Bl9U2f...

19 Aug

When a crisis arises during the #election cycle, it’s too late to build the kinds of relationships that can weather the potential chaos. So who do you need to reach out to? How? And what are the shared values to lead with? Find out with our #democracy protection guide: worc.org/how-to-prote...

@foodandwater.bsky.social

18 Aug

Interior's proposed revision to the #oilandgas rule makes it clear that Sec. Doug Burgum wants to block the public from weighing in on leasing decisions that threaten communities and livelihoods. We put together a petition calling on Burgum to give us a say: secure.everyaction.com/b15JZAZ3rE6C...

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Food & Water Watch

18 Aug

Don't listen to excuses from the AI industry! Hyperscale data centers still increase electric bills for nearby communities. It's just one of many reasons why we need a moratorium on AI data centers!

foodandwaterwatch.orgFalse Promises, Deceitful Accounting of Data Centers’ “Bring Your Own Power” PledgesAs Congress Considers So-Called “Ratepayer Protection Act,” Fallacies of Off-Grid Power Come to Light

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17 Aug

This is interesting. We keep hearing how the new #datacenters use less water & electricity than old ones, but this directly contradicts that. So continue to proceed with caution & make a plan in your community. seekingalpha.com/news/4633608...

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18 Aug

Great reporting from @insideclimatenews.org on Riverview's rapid #dairy expansion around the Midwest. SD should be wary of #industrialag on this scale. Communities are wise to push back & demand more #transparency. insideclimatenews.org/news/0708202... @georginagustin.bsky.social

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17 Aug

Scorching oped from DRA member & Edmunds County farmer Julie Burgod in the Dakota Scout. She raised questions about a proposed 25K head #dairy. Then a DCI agent showed up at her door. The SD Attorney General was investigating her for fraud. #CAFO #intimidation #FirstAmendment

14 Aug

Rural communities can garner huge economic benefits when wind projects come to the area—but only if residents come together and demand it. Here’s how Dakota Resource Council helped New Rockford, North Dakota, get millions of dollars for local economic development. worc.org/incentivizin...

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dakotanewsnow.comTexas supplier sues Summit Carbon Solutions over unpaid ordersThe gear was built for the same carbon project tied to regulatory fights across the Midwest, including South Dakota.

14 Aug

So now this company, which promised all sorts of monetary gain for people & communities, is now being sued for not paying their vendors. Shows their hollow promises! #carbonpipeline #ccs

Dakota News Now@dakotanewsnow.com

The gear was built for the same carbon project tied to regulatory fights across the Midwest, including South Dakota.

13 Aug

Sec. Burgum’s proposed revision of the 2024 Onshore Oil & Gas Rule robs split-estate ranchers of their say over what happens to their land, livelihoods & the places they call home. Read Donnie’s opinion piece to see how this could affect him & others like him. www.northernag.net/op-ed-dont-l...

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