POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL
Programs
Program 1 [2020]
POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL'S (POWDER RIVER) MISSION STATEMENT REMAINS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR OUR WORK: -THE PRESERVATION AND ENRICHMENT OF WYOMING'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE AND RURAL LIFESTYLE. -THE CONSERVATION OF WYOMING'S UNIQUE LAND, MINERAL, WATER, AND CLEAN AIR RESOURCES CONSISTENT WITH RESPONSIBLE USE OF THOSE RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN THE LIVELIHOOD OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. -THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WYOMING'S CITIZENS TO RAISE A COHERENT VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND LIFESTYLE. POWDER RIVER WAS FOUNDED IN 1973 BY RURAL LANDOWNERS OF NORTH EAST WYOMING WORKING TO PROTECT THEIR LAND, WATER, AND AIR FROM THE RAVAGES OF COAL STRIP MINING, POWDER RIVER CURRENTLY HAS MEMBERS THROUGHOUT WYOMING AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES. IN 2020 THERE WERE SIX LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGHOUT WYOMING THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH POWDER RIVER. POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL IS THE ONLY GROUP IN WYOMING THAT ACTIVELY ADDRESSES BOTH AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION ISSUES. THE GROUP UNITES BOTH INDIVIDUALS WITH STRONG CONSERVATION CONVICTIONS AND RANCHERS AND FARMERS WITH A STRONG LAND STEWARDSHIP ETHIC AROUND A SHARED VISION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE WYOMING'S QUALITY OF LIFE. ALSO, POWDER RIVER IS THE ONLY GROUP THAT ADDRESSES SPLIT ESTATE AND PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC LAND ISSUES. POWDER RIVER MEMBERS WRITE EDITORIALS AND LETTERS -TO-THE-EDITOR REGARDING THE ISSUES WE ADDRESS, WHICH ARE THEN PUBLISHED IN LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS BLOGS. POWDER RIVER PUBLISHES THE POWDER RIVER BREAKS ON A BIMONTHLY BASIS FROM JANUARY/ FEBRUARY TO NOVEMBER/DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR. THIS 8-T-16-PAGE NEWSLETTER CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE ISSUES AND PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY POWDER RIVER. IT IS PROVIDED TO MEMBERS AND IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE AND OTHER DESIGNATED DROP SITES. POWDER RIVER MAINTAINS A WEBSITE AT WWW.POWDERRIVERBASIN.ORG THAT INFORMS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON CONSERVATION ISSUES THAT THE ORGANIZATION ADDRESSES. POWDER RIVER ALSO HAS A YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHERE OUR EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE. WE ALSO MAINTAIN A LIBRARY IN OUR OFFICE CONTAINING HISTORICAL AND CURRENT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO WATER, LAND, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. POWDER RIVER HAS TWO OFFICE LOCATIONS IN WYOMING. THE MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED IN SHERIDAN, AND IN 2020 WE HAD STAFF LOCATED IN LANDER AND CONTRACT STAFF LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST WYOMING. POWDER RIVER'S WORK IS OVERSEEN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED FROM AND BY THE POWDER RIVER MEMBERSHIP FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM. AS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, MEMBERS DECIDE THE DIRECTION AND FOCUS OF POWDER RIVER'S WORK. MEMBERS BRING RESOLUTIONS FOR A VOTE OF MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING THAT IS HELD ANNUALLY IN NOVEMBER AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. EVERY YEAR A KEYNOTE SPEAKER OR PANEL PROVIDES INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION ON SELECTED ISSUES AND IS OPEN TO QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT NORMALLY RANGES FROM 100 TO 200 PEOPLE. IN 2020, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, OUR 48TH ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD ONLINE AND SIMPLY FOCUSED ON OUR BUSINESS MEETING, BOARD ELECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN OUR 48-YEAR HISTORY THAT OUR ORGANIZATION WAS UNABLE TO HOLD OUR EVENT IN PERSON AND PRESENT A PROGRAM FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP. EVERY YEAR POWDER RIVER ALSO SPONSORS AWARDS AT THE WYOMING STATE SCIENCE FAIR FOR SCIENCE PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION ON THE PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS OF WYOMING. THE YOUTH IN CONSERVATION AWARDS ARE A CASH AWARD TO SELECTED PARTICIPANTS IN THE WYOMING STATE SCIENCE FAIR WHOSE PROJECTS MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD. EACH YEAR JUDGES FROM POWDER RIVER SELECT THE BEST PROJECTS OUT OF THE MANY THEY VIEW AT THE STATE SCIENCE FAIR. THE STATE SCIENCE FAIR IS VISITED BY THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. THE YOUTH IN CONSERVATION AWARD WAS STARTED WITH FUNDS RECEIVED BY POWDER RIVER IN MEMORY OF BILL BARLOW, ONE OF OUR FOUNDING MEMBERS. THESE AWARDS HONOR STUDENTS WHOSE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS STUDY WYOMING ECOSYSTEMS, CONSIDER IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OR OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, OR EXPLORE INNOVATIVE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES. THE WINNERS IN 2020, SELECTED BY POWDER RIVER BOARD MEMBERS, WERE: MARKIE WHITNEY FROM NEWCASTLE FOR HER ONGOING PROJECT ON INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF SOLAR PANELS, "SOLAR PANELS - TOO COOL-; ISABEL ORAVEC FROM ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN CHEYENNE FOR HER PROJECT "DOES SEED DEPTH MATTER?-; AND GOSHEN COUNTY STUDENTS EMMETT COXBILL AND AYDEN SHIMIC WERE AWARDED 200 FOR THEIR PROJECT ON SOIL EROSION, "THE EROSION GAMES." IN 2020, POWDER RIVER'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS WAS MORE CHALLENGING DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS SURROUNDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. HOWEVER, WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADAPT AND INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS. WHEN COVID RESTRICTIONS WERE FIRST IMPOSED, POWDER RIVER ASSISTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY PROCEDURES WHICH ALLOWED THE OUTDOOR LANDON'S FARMER MARKET TO REMAIN SAFELY OPEN FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. TO INCREASE CONSUMER ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS, WE DEVELOPED POSTCARDS WHICH WERE SENT TO OVER 500 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) RECIPIENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THEIR SNAP BENEFITS ARE ACCEPTED AT THE DOWNTOWN SHERIDAN FARMERS' MARKET. WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF FARMER MARKET VENDORS AND HELPED TO DEVELOP A VIRTUAL MARKET AND PRODUCED A MARKETING VIDEO FOR PRODUCERS WHICH COVERED BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON MARKETING STRATEGIES. THE VIDEO IS AVAILABLE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. POWDER RIVER HELD A SEED LIBRARY WORKDAY IN JANUARY AND STOCKED THE SEED LIBRARY FOR SPRING PLANTING, BUT THE COVID PANDEMIC FORCED THE LIBRARY TO CLOSE IN MARCH. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE ACCESS TO THE SEED LIBRARY AND TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR ACCESS TO FREE SEEDS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE REPACKAGED THE SEEDS AND MADE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY ON OUTDOOR FRONT PORCH. THE SHERIDAN FOOD FOREST CONTINUES TO FLOURISH WITH POWDER RIVER'S LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERS. IN 2020, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO HARVEST APPLES, PEARS, BERRIES, HERBS, AND ASPARAGUS. THE COAL INDUSTRY'S DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT STARTED YEARS AGO CONTINUED IN 2020 AND WAS ACCELERATED BY REDUCED ENERGY DEMAND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE COAL INDUSTRY WAS MARKED BY PAYCHECK PROTECTION LOANS, LAYOFFS, BANKRUPTCIES, AND AN OVERALL EFFORT TO DOWNSIZE AND GET RID OF DEBT. POWDER RIVER CONTINUES TO BE THE VOICE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE PROTECTION FOR OUR LAND AND PEOPLE AS THE INDUSTRY WINDS DOWN. WE CONTINUED OUR MULTI-YEAR CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE RECLAMATION BONDS WILL COVER THE FULL COST OF REPAIRING THE LANDS AND WATERS OF WYOMING AFTER MINING. WE ALSO STRENGTHENED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLIED GROUPS IN APPALACHIA AND ON THE NAVAJO NATION TO FOCUS ON COMMON PROBLEMS IN COAL MINE REGULATION AND BANKRUPTCY ISSUES. POWDER RIVER CONTINUED TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF THE TONGUE RIVER AND THE VALLEY AND LOCAL LANDOWNERS WITH THE PERMITTING OF A PROPOSED NEW COAL MINE. WE ALSO RELEASED A REPORT ENTITLED: LESSONS FROM HISTORY: WYOMING'S 30 YEARS OF FAILED COAL UPGRADING PROJECTS, WHICH TRACES THE STATE'S LEGACY OF COAL UPGRADING PROJECTS FROM THE 1980S TO THE PRESENT. IN 2020, POWDER RIVER INITIATED A NEW FOCUS ON THE NEED FOR WYOMING TO ADDRESS THE PLANNED AND PROPOSED COAL POWER PLANT RETIREMENTS IN SOUTHWEST WYOMING. OUR PLAN WAS TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT ENERGY TRANSITION AND HOLD A CONFERENCE OR SOME WORKSHOPS BUT AGAIN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FORCED US TO PIVOT TO AN ONLINE WEBINAR FORMAT. WE ORGANIZED FOUR WEBINARS WHICH FEATURED SPEAKERS FROM THE STATE AND REGION ON: 1.) WYOMING'S REALITY AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES; 2) TOOLS TO DIVERSIFY WYOMING'S ECONOMY; 3) SECURITIZATION: A FINANCE TOOL FOR ENERGY TRANSITION; AND 4) FUNDING WYOMING'S ECONOMIC TRANSITION. VIDEOS OF ALL THE WEBINARS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL. IN 2020, POWDER RIVER'S ORGANIZING AND CAMPAIGN WORK AROUND OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON PROTECTING WYOMING'S FRESHWATER RESOURCES, REDUCING AIR POLLUTION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, PUSHING TO ENSURE RECLAMATION AND PLUGGING OF ORPHAN OIL AND GAS WELLS, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, AND MINIMIZING THE FOOTPRINT OF OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT TO PROTECT OUR LAND AND VALUABLE WILDLIFE HABITAT. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT STREAMS FLOWING INTO BOYSEN RESERVOIR AND THE WIND RIVER FROM OIL AND GAS WASTEWATER. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO ENSURE THE FRESHWATER AQUIFERS OF THE OGALLALA FORMATION AND THE MADISON FORMATION WERE PROTECTED. POWDER RIVER CONTINUED TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ON THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION AND TO WORK FOR INCREASED EFFORTS TO MONITOR AND REDUCE AIR POLLUTANTS FROM OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT. OUR EDUCATION AND ORGANIZING WORK AROUND RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTINUED TO GROW WITH THE PASSAGE OF A CARBON NEUTRAL RESOLUTION BY THE LARAMIE CITY COUNCIL. WE EXPANDED THOSE EFFOGeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$554.8KConservation and Community Empowerment
POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL'S (POWDER RIVER) MISSION STATEMENT REMAINS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR OUR WORK: THE PRESERVATION AND ENRICHMENT OF WYOMING'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE AND RURAL LIFESTYLE. THE CONSERVATION OF WYOMING'S UNIQUE LAND, MINERAL, WATER, AND CLEAN AIR RESOURCES CONSISTENT WITH RESPONSIBLE USE OF THOSE RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN THE LIVELIHOOD OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WYOMING'S CITIZENS TO RAISE A COHERENT VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND LIFESTYLE. POWDER RIVER WAS FOUNDED IN 1973 BY RURAL LANDOWNERS OF NORTH EAST WYOMING WORKING TO PROTECT THEIR LAND, WATER, AND AIR FROM THE RAVAGES OF COAL STRIP MINING, POWDER RIVER CURRENTLY HAS MEMBERS THROUGHOUT WYOMING AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES. IN 2021 THERE WERE SIX LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGHOUT WYOMING THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH POWDER RIVER. POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL IS THE ONLY GROUP IN WYOMING THAT ACTIVELY ADDRESSES AGRICULTURAL AS WELL AS ENERGY AND CONSERVATION ISSUES. THE GROUP UNITES BOTH INDIVIDUALS WITH STRONG CONSERVATION CONVICTIONS AND RANCHERS AND FARMERS WITH A STRONG LAND STEWARDSHIP ETHIC AROUND A SHARED VISION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE WYOMING'S QUALITY OF LIFE. ALSO, POWDER RIVER IS THE ONLY GROUP THAT ADDRESSES SPLIT ESTATE AND PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC LAND ISSUES. POWDER RIVER MEMBERS WRITE EDITORIALS AND LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR REGARDING THE ISSUES WE ADDRESS, WHICH ARE THEN PUBLISHED IN LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWSPAPERS AS WELL AS ONLINE NEWS SITES. POWDER RIVER PUBLISHES THE POWDER RIVER BREAKS ON A BIMONTHLY BASIS FROM JANUARY/ FEBRUARY TO NOVEMBER/DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR. THIS EIGHT-TO- TWELVE-PAGE NEWSLETTER CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE ISSUES AND PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY POWDER RIVER. IT IS PROVIDED TO MEMBERS AND IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE AND OTHER DESIGNATED DROP SITES. POWDER RIVER MAINTAINS A WEBSITE AT WWW.POWDERRIVERBASIN.ORG THAT INFORMS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON CONSERVATION ISSUES THAT THE ORGANIZATION ADDRESSES. POWDER RIVER ALSO HAS A YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHERE OUR EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE. WE ALSO MAINTAIN A LIBRARY IN OUR OFFICE CONTAINING HISTORICAL AND CURRENT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO WATER, LAND, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AT OUR OFFICE BASED IN SHERIDAN. POWDER RIVER'S WORK IS OVERSEEN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED FROM AND BY THE POWDER RIVER MEMBERSHIP FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM. AS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, MEMBERS DECIDE THE DIRECTION AND FOCUS OF POWDER RIVER'S WORK. MEMBERS BRING RESOLUTIONS FOR A VOTE OF MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL AT THE ANNUAL MEETING THAT IS HELD ANNUALLY IN NOVEMBER AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. EVERY YEAR A KEYNOTE SPEAKER OR PANEL PROVIDES INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION ON SELECTED ISSUES AND IS OPEN TO QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT NORMALLY RANGES FROM 90 - 150 PEOPLE. IN 2021, DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID PANDEMIC, OUR 49TH ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD ONLINE VIA ZOOM WITH A BUSINESS MEETING FOR POWDER RIVER MEMBERS AND A KEYNOTE SPEAKER WHO SPOKE ON REIMAGINING WYOMING: BUFFALO, SUSTAINABILITY & TRANSFORMATION. EVERY YEAR POWDER RIVER ALSO SPONSORS AWARDS AT THE WYOMING STATE SCIENCE FAIR FOR SCIENCE PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION ON THE PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS OF WYOMING. THE YOUTH IN CONSERVATION AWARDS ARE A CASH AWARD TO SELECTED PARTICIPANTS IN THE WYOMING STATE SCIENCE FAIR WHOSE PROJECTS MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD. THESE AWARDS HONOR STUDENTS WHOSE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS STUDY WYOMING ECOSYSTEMS, CONSIDER IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OR OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, OR EXPLORE INNOVATIVE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES. THE WINNERS IN 2021, SELECTED BY POWDER RIVER BOARD MEMBERS, WERE: LARAMIE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT PADMALAKSHMI RAMESH FOR HER COMPUTER SCIENCE PROJECT "APPLICATION OF DATA SCIENCE & VISUALIZATION CONCEPTS FOR ANALYZING PATTERNS IN WYOMING WILDFIRE DATA;" SHANTI JUNKER OF LANDER MIDDLE SCHOOL WHOSE PROJECT "MOVING, MOBBING, MOWING,- AND MAKAILA MERRIAM OF MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CHEYENNE FOR HER PROJECT "EFFECT OF ACID RAIN ON GERMINATION." EACH WINNER RECEIVED WAS AWARDED 250. IN 2021, POWDER RIVER'S CONTINUED EFFORTS TO INCREASE CONSUMER ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS. WE DEVELOPED POSTCARDS WHICH WERE SENT TO OVER 600 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) RECIPIENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THEIR SNAP BENEFITS ARE ACCEPTED AT THE DOWNTOWN SHERIDAN FARMERS' MARKET. WE ALSO MAINTAINED THE SHERIDAN SEED LIBRARY AT THE SHERIDAN COUNTY FULMER LIBRARY THROUGH HIGH-DEMAND FOR SEEDS DUE TO THE ONGOING PANDEMIC. WE CONTINUED SUPPORTING THE SHERIDAN FOOD FOREST, WHICH IS A PUBLIC SOURCE OF FOOD AS WELL AS HABITAT FOR NATIVE POLLINATORS, AND HOSTED A SUCCESSFUL PICNIC ON THE PATHWAY IN AUGUST WHERE CHILDREN WERE PRESENTED WITH A VARIETY OF HANDS-ON SCIENCE ACTIVITIES. WE REMAINED ACTIVE THE WYOMING FOOD COALITION, WHICH IS WORKING TO UNITE THE LOCAL FOODS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE. POWDER RIVER WORKED TO HELP FARMERS AND RANCHERS INTERESTED IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE BY HOSTING BUILDING SOILS FOR FAT COWS AND RANCH PROFITS, A WEBINAR ON PRACTICAL TIPS TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE FOR CATTLE RANCHING. WE ALSO STARTED A RANCHER TO RANCHER SUPPORT GROUP FOR REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE TO HELP PRODUCERS CONNECT AND SHARE INFORMATION. THE COAL INDUSTRY'S DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT STARTED YEARS AGO CONTINUED IN 2021 WITH MINE PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT REMAINING LOW. POWDER RIVER CONTINUES TO BE THE VOICE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE PROTECTION FOR OUR LAND AND PEOPLE AS THE INDUSTRY WINDS DOWN. WE CONTINUED OUR MULTI-YEAR CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE RECLAMATION BONDS ARE AVAILABLE TO COVER THE FULL COST OF REPAIRING THE LAND OF WATER AFTER MINING. IN 2021, MORE MINES REPLACED RISKY "SELF-BONDS" WITH THIRD-PARTY SURETY BONDS, AND NOW NO WYOMING MINES ARE SELF-BONDED. WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALLIED GROUPS IN APPALACHIA AND OTHER COAL REGIONS TO FOCUS ON COMMON PROBLEMS IN COAL MINE RECLAMATION AND BANKRUPTCY. WE MET WITH OFFICIALS FEDERAL AGENCIES ABOUT THESE KEY REFORMS THAT ARE NEEDED BY COAL COMMUNITIES. POWDER RIVER CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR THE RETIREMENT OF POLLUTING AND UNECONOMIC COAL PLANTS DESPITE THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO KEEP THEM OPEN USING EXPENSIVE AND UNPROVEN CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY. WE ALSO LAUNCHED THE WYOMING RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION TO ADVOCATE TRANSITIONING FROM HIGHER- COST COAL GENERATION TO LOWER-COST RENEWABLE ENERGY. IN 2021, POWDER RIVER CONTINUED WORKING FOR A JUST AND EQUITABLE ENERGY TRANSITION IN SOUTHWEST WYOMING. WE CONTINUED OUR WEBINAR SERIES, RECLAIMING AND GROWING WYOMING'S FUTURE WITH THREE MORE WEBINARS FOCUSING ON THE CHANGING WORKFORCE, RESOURCES FOR TOUGH TIMES, AND THE VALUE OF A WELLNESS SECTOR. WE ALSO LAUNCHED WYOMING VOICES, A STORYTELLING PROJECT AIMED AT SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE AROUND THE ENERGY TRANSITION. IN 2021, POWDER RIVER'S ORGANIZING AND CAMPAIGN WORK AROUND OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON PROTECTING WYOMING'S FRESHWATER RESOURCES, REDUCING AIR POLLUTION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND PUSHING TO ENSURE RECLAMATION AND PLUGGING OF ORPHAN OIL AND GAS WELLS. WE WORKED WITH OUR CHEYENNE AFFILIATE, CHEYENNE AREA LANDOWNERS COALITION, AND EARTHWORKS' COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROJECT TO FILM SEVERAL LEAKING WELLS IN LARAMIE COUNTY WITH A STATE-OF-THE-ART INFRARED CAMERA. WE ALSO WORKED TO STRENGTHEN FEDERAL AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS AND ADVOCATED FOR FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASING AND BONDING REFORM. WE CONTINUED TO PROTECT OUR AQUIFERS FROM BEING POLLUTED WITH PRODUCED OIL AND GAS WASTEWATER. OUR 2021 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORK BUILT UPON OUR PREVIOUS WORK IN LARAMIE WHERE OUR AFFILIATE, ALLIANCE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY (ARE), FORMED A JOINT TASKFORCE TO TACKLE LARAMIE-AREA EMISSIONS AND MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD THE CITY'S 2050 CARBON-FREE GOAL. ARE ORGANIZED A SOLAR TOUR OF THE COMMUNITY FEATURING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOLAR ENERGY ARRAYS, AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS. ARE ALSO SUPPORTED THE CITY OF LARAMIE IN INSTALLING ITS INAUGURAL SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT. OUR SHERIDAN AREA AFFILIATE ALSO CONTINUED TALKS WITH THE LOCAL UTILITY ABOUT BUILDING A COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT. WE WERE ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE FORMATION OF THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASKFORCE IN LANDER. MUCH LIKE OUR WORK IN LARAMIE, THIS GROUP IS WORKING TO DECREASE THE COMMUNITY'S EMISSIONS AND PROMOTE INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$455.6K
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