Union Energy Works™
Cutting Pipelines Off at the Pass!
Protecting farmland, empowering unions, and building a safer energy future.
by Sondra Wilson. Drafted September 2025

The Problem

For decades, Iowa farmers have lived with uncertainty—wondering when their land will be next to be seized for another oil pipeline like Dakota Access. Corporations use eminent domain to force easements, enriching out-of-state shareholders while Iowans inherit the risks, not the profits. Rural families lose farmland. Communities lose control. And when disasters strike, it is the public who bears the cost.

The fact is: we’re still going to be dependent on oil for years. Iowa FryerForce™ is helping us slowly turn the corner toward clean energy, and MycoFuel Engineers™ are pioneering renewable fuels—but the transition will not happen overnight. The question is: while we still need oil, who should profit from it? Wall Street—or Iowans themselves?

It’s time we cut the pipelines off at the pass—by intercepting and refining energy at Iowa’s borders in a way that protects farmers, empowers unions, and keeps profits local.

How It Works

CRC Launch + Union Partnership

Union Energy Works™ begins under the Civilian Restoration Corps (CRC), partnering with Iowa’s steelworkers, pipefitters, and trades unions. Phase one is a feasibility and pilot program: small-scale facilities and interconnects designed to test the model, train workers, and build cooperative governance.

Once stable, Union Energy Works™ will “break free”—transitioning into a worker-owned cooperative with one share, one vote democracy.

The Refinery Pilot & Energy Input Strategy

Instead of rushing into billion-dollar infrastructure, Union Energy Works™ will:

  • Pilot small-scale refining & storage hubs at Iowa’s borders where crude already flows.

  • Use MycoFuel™ pellets for heat inputs—growing Iowa’s renewable demand inside the refinery itself.

  • Lay groundwork for cooperative scaling, with unions trained not just as laborers but as owners and managers.

This keeps Iowa in control during the oil-to-renewables transition, while ensuring every investment grows local innovation.

Iowa’s Geographic Advantage

Iowa sits at the heart of the country, making it uniquely positioned:

  • Pipeline Crossroads: The Dakota Access Pipeline already moves up to 750,000 barrels/day across Iowa. Interconnects here can intercept crude before it leaves.

  • Rail + Terminal Capacity: Freight rail and terminals (e.g., Newton and Clive) can be adapted for crude and biofuels alike.

  • Inland Safety: Unlike Gulf Coast refineries, Iowa is free from hurricanes and coastal flooding. Hurricanes Harvey (2017) and Ida (2021) each shut down ~10–15% of U.S. capacity [Reuters, 2022; EIA, 2021]. Iowa provides resilience the nation currently lacks.

Investment Through ICIX

Union Energy Works™ will be listed on the Iowa Stock Exchange (ICIX). That means:

  • Iowans can purchase shares and co-fund pilot facilities.

  • Returns stay in Iowa, tied directly to the initiative’s success.

  • Cooperative governance ensures majority worker-union ownership, with dividends shared through ICIX.

This transforms Union Energy Works™ into a statewide wealth-building engine—empowering everyday Iowans instead of Wall Street speculators.

Why Union Energy Works™ Matters

Protects Farmers
Stops new land seizures by building at existing crossings and borders.

Empowers Workers
Unions aren’t just labor—they’re owners.

Builds Clean Demand
Expands Iowa-made biofuels like MycoFuel™ while stabilizing energy supply.

Bolsters Energy Sovereignty
Energy profits flow to Iowans, not Big Oil.

Ownership Transition Path

Phase Description
Launch CRC funds feasibility, small pilot facilities, and union training
Growth Refineries scale gradually, blending crude with renewable inputs
Ownership Breaks free into a worker-owned cooperative with majority union control and ICIX participation

Why Worker-Owned Cooperatives?

Alvarado Street Bakery in California offers a proof of concept:

  • 100+ worker-owners, each with one vote (Hay, 2009).

  • Produces 40,000 loaves daily, 40% solar powered (The Business Download, 2022).

  • Workers earn $65,000–$70,000 annually with full benefits (Hay, 2009).

👉 In a corporate refinery, profits flow upward.
👉 In Union Energy Works™, profits stay in Iowa, shared between workers and ICIX investors.

Q & A Highlights

Won’t this reinforce oil dependency?
We’re already dependent. This plan makes sure Iowans profit from it while building renewables to replace it.

How’s this safer than Gulf refineries?
No hurricanes, no floods, no shutdowns. Iowa is inland, stable, and central.

Are unions capable of running refineries?
With CRC training and cooperative governance, yes. This is about turning labor into ownership.

How can everyday Iowans benefit?
Through ICIX, families and farmers can co-own critical infrastructure—something Wall Street would never let them do.

Conclusion

Union Energy Works™ is not about doubling down on oil. It’s about using the reality of oil dependence to build sovereignty, worker power, and renewable demand—while protecting farmers from further pipeline seizures.

Through ICIX, profits stay in Iowa. Through CRC, ownership stays in workers’ hands. And through cooperative design, Iowa shows the nation how to transition from oil dependency to clean energy—on our own terms.

📚 References

Energy Information Administration. (2021, September 16). Hurricane Ida disrupted crude oil production and refining. U.S. EIA. https://www.eia.gov

Hay, R. (2009). Alvarado Street Bakery: Worker cooperative case study. Grassroots Economic Organizing.

Reuters. (2022, June 30). A short history of U.S. oil refining losses due to hurricanes. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com

The Business Download. (2022). Alvarado Street Bakery’s cooperative model and solar innovation. https://thebusinessdownload.com

Folbre, N. (2009). Greed, lust & gender: A history of economic ideas. Oxford University Press.

USAEE. (2024). Regional oil production and economic impact. U.S. Association for Energy Economics.