Statement from Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network on Defeat of HB1204/SB798

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 9, 2012

Chesapeake Climate Action Network

CONTACT:

Mike Tidwell, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-460-5838

Jamie Nolan, jamie@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-396-2022

“In my ten years of working with the Maryland General Assembly, I have never witnessed such a blatant subversion of the will of Maryland voters in the face of Big Oil and Gas interests as occurred this legislative session on the issue of natural gas fracking in western Maryland. Despite the heroic efforts of a broad coalition and leaders in the House of Delegates, such as Delegate Heather Mizeur (D-20), the American Petroleum Institute (API) single-handedly bank rolled a coordinated campaign and leveraged personal relationships with members of key committees to kill more than ten fracking bills. These bills were designed to protect Maryland citizens from a range of fracking impacts, including protecting children from contaminated drinking water and landowners from being ripped off. Worst of all, Big Oil and Gas effectively killed HB1204/SB798 — a reasonable study fee bill that would generate the necessary funding to ensure that Maryland thoroughly assesses the fracking process before considering moving forward. A stunning 71% of Maryland voters support these studies and an extraordinary 81% of voters think that the industry should pay for them before Maryland approves fracking practices within our boarders.

It’s a sad day in Maryland when wealthy fossil fuel companies can buy committee votes in the face of indisputable polling majorities. Maryland voters overwhelmingly support reasonable, fair bills to protect citizens from fracking impacts that have been documented in states already employing this extreme drilling technique. These extraordinary majority polling numbers are rarely seen in public policy debates.

The outrageous actions of API and their proven close financial and personal ties to Annapolis lawmakers have only deepened the resolve of a strong coalition of landowners, farmers, environmentalists, health officials, and others to fight fracking in Maryland. This coalition will be back next year working tirelessly to push the General Assembly on the issue of fracking, including the option of banning the practice entirely, given the industry’s unwillingness to prove whether or not the practice can be done safely. Until then, we will continue to work with Governor O’Malley’s study commission and state agencies to expose fracking impacts to the public and push for stringent regulation of this practice across the board in Maryland.”  

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