Polling released same day shows 81% of MD voters at odds with Virginia-based Dominion over need for federal environmental impact statement

Ahead of 2014 public hearings, ‘Maryland Crossroads’ tour will carry ‘Clean Energy, Not Cove Point’ call to action from Appalachia to Eastern Shore

BALTIMORE—A statewide coalition of environmental, health, faith and public interest groups is today launching an unprecedented nine-stop tour to rally public opposition to what they call a “radical” plan to export fracked natural gas to Asia through southern Maryland. The tour, called “Maryland Crossroads 2013: Clean Energy, Not Cove Point!,” begins this evening in Annapolis and will tour the state from Cumberland to Salisbury by early December. Each town hall meeting will educate Marylanders about the dangers of a Virginia-based company’s plan to build a $3.8 billion fuel export facility at Cove Point—triggering pollution from drilling, piping, liquefying and shipping gas—when real clean-energy alternatives exist.

At a kick-off press conference this morning in Baltimore, tour organizers released polling data showing a large, bipartisan majority of Maryland voters—81 percent—believe federal regulators should complete a full, cumulative environmental impact statement (EIS) on the Cove Point project. Thus far, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has sided with project backer Dominion Resources and indicated that it will only complete a less rigorous environmental “assessment,” which is typically reserved for projects of smaller size and scope. The federal environmental review is one step in a series of federal and state permits Dominion needs before it can begin construction. The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold its first hearings on the Cove Point project in mid-February 2014.

 

“Maryland faces a real crossroads decision: Will we let Dominion pollute our state with fracking and piping and liquefying of gas, or turn once and for all to real clean energy solutions?,” said Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Cove Point would be a radical turn in the wrong direction. Today’s polling data shows that Marylanders want a full federal review of the health, climate and safety risks.”

At the press conference, Tidwell also issued a letter to Dominion CEO Thomas Farrell requesting that he come to Maryland for a public debate over Cove Point, with ground rules of his own choosing.

“Dominion’s plan threatens communities across Maryland with new industrial pollution from pipelines carrying gas from other states, as well as potentially increased demand to frack within our borders,” said Rebecca Ruggles, director of the Maryland Environmental Health Network. “This tour shows that Marylanders are raising our voices for clean energy. We’re asking our officials—both state and federal—to put our children’s health before the private profits of the gas industry.”

Controversy over the Cove Point project is already boiling over in southern Maryland. Last week, several hundred concerned residents—the large majority in opposition—turned out to a public meeting of the Calvert County Board of Commissioners and erupted in boos when the board approved local zoning law exemptions for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility.

“The impacts of Cove Point would start in southern Maryland—where we’re already seeing unprecedented turnout at public meetings and hearings—but they certainly won’t stop there,” said Fred Tutman, CEO of Patuxent Riverkeeper. “That’s why this statewide tour is so important. Every Marylander who cares about protecting our clean water, climate and health has a stake in holding Dominion accountable for its true and undisclosed impacts. As word spreads, Dominion can expect to face growing backlash not only in Calvert County, but from every corner of Maryland.”

In contrast to exposing the far-ranging statewide pollution dangers of Dominion’s proposed $3.8 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility, the Maryland Crossroads 2013 Tour will promote the far-ranging statewide benefits of upcoming legislation to would double the state’s commitment to clean energy sources like wind and solar power. By raising the state’s requirement for clean electricity to 40 percent by 2025, advocates say, the General Assembly would grow Maryland’s economy while significantly reducing health costs borne by families and addressing the intensifying impacts of climate change.

“While Cove Point is the biggest environmental threat facing our state, accelerating our clean energy supply is our biggest opportunity,” said Nancy Soreng, former president of the Maryland League of Women Voters. “In the face of rising seas and rising temperatures, we need new solar panels and wind turbines popping up across Maryland, not dangerous new pipelines, fracking wells and gas plants.”

“We have a moral obligation to our neighbors here and around the world to do everything we can to address climate change in Maryland,” said Joelle Novey, director, Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA). “No matter what outside companies propose to do with fossil fuels in our state, religious communities will be speaking out every step of the way to say it’s time to invest in clean energy instead.”

After kicking off in Annapolis, the Maryland Crossroads Tour will travel by hybrid car caravan to St. Mary’s, Silver Spring, Baltimore, Salisbury, Frederick, College Park, Cumberland and Columbia. Each stop will feature a multi-media presentation, panels of speakers, live music and presentation of “Climate Hero” awards to local groups and individuals.

“Fracked gas exports promise to be an all-around pollution nightmare and, on top of it all, raise energy costs for low-income families,” said Isobel Modica, co-president of Students Of Sustainability at MICA, which is hosting the Baltimore tour stop. “If Dominion wanted to help Maryland, and look out for our interests, it would invest $3.8 billion in new solar and wind power installations—technologies that create jobs without sacrificing our future.”

Resources for journalists:

• Gonzales memo (PDF) of the statewide Cove Point polling data.
• Fact sheet (PDF) on the dangers of Cove Point versus the benefits of a 40 percent by 2025 clean energy standard.
• Letter sent to Governor O’Malley urging him to demand a full federal Environmental Impact Study on Cove Point.

Tour information: The full tour schedule is outlined below and available at: http://org.salsalabs.com/o/423/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=12533.

Tour sponsors include: Chesapeake Climate Action Network ▪ Earthjustice ▪ Earthworks ▪ Green America ▪ Maryland Environmental Health Network ▪ Maryland League of Women Voters ▪ Maryland Student Climate Coalition ▪ Physicians for Social Responsibility ▪ Waterkeepers Chesapeake ▪ Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments ▪ AMP Creeks Council ▪ Annapolis Divest ▪ Assateague Coastkeeper ▪ Citizen Shale ▪ Interfaith Power & Light ▪ Greenbelt Climate A
ction Network ▪ HoCo Climate Change ▪ Myersville Citizens for a Rural Community ▪ Patuxent Riverkeeper ▪ Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse ▪ Sierra Club – Catoctin Group ▪ Sierra Club – Southern MD Group

Tour schedule:

• Annapolis: November 5th, 7:30-9pm, Broadneck Auditorium, Broadneck High School, 1265 Green Holly Dr, Annapolis, MD 21409
• St. Mary’s: November 6th, 7:30-9pm, St. Mary’s Hall, Auerbach Auditorium, SMCM, St Mary’s City, MD 20686 (St. Mary’s Hall is at the corner of Trinity Church Rd and Old State House Rd, behind Calvert Hall and across from the Trinity Episcopal Church parking lot.)
• Silver Spring: November 7th, 7:30-9pm, Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Baltimore: November 12th, 7:30-9pm, Falvey Hall in the Brown Center, MICA, 1301 Mount Royal Ave, Baltimore MD 21217
• Salisbury: November 13th, 7:00-8:30pm, Henson Science Hall 103, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave, Salisbury, MD 21801
• Frederick: November 18, 7:30-9pm. Rosenstock Auditorium, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, 21701
• College Park: November 19th, 7:30-9pm, Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom Lounge 1209, 7600 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD, 20742
• Cumberland: November 20th, 7:30-9pm, New Embassy Theatre, 49 Baltimore St, Cumberland, MD, 21502
• Columbia: December 3rd, 7:30-9pm, East Columbia Senior Center, Howard County Library East Columbia Branch, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045

CONTACT:
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

###