Stand for Justice: Stop Dominion!
Last Wednesday, activists rallied at the courthouse in Annapolis to support the Sierra Club as they brought their case against Dominion Resources. The Virginia-based company plans to construct a liquefied natural gas export facility in tiny Cove Point, Maryland. If built, the facility would encourage fracking across the region, worsen air quality in surrounding Calvert County, and be the largest climate polluter in Maryland.
In court, the Sierra Club argued that Dominion was violating a contract with environmentalists. Sierra Club argues that this contract, first written in 1972 and signed by Dominion in 2005, gives the Sierra Club the ability to reject any significant changes to the purpose or “footprint” of the company’s existing facility that presently only imports liquefied natural gas (LNG) from overseas. They argue that any change in its function must be approved by the environmental community.
Outside the courthouse, a hundred activists rallied, holding signs that read “Stand for Justice: Stop Dominion!” and “Water is Life.” The rally featured rousing speeches by Josh Tulkin, Mike Tidwell, and Sue Allison, a mother and activist from the Cove Point area. “When it comes to Dominion’s Cove Point fracked gas export plans … WE ARE SO DONE!” To read Allison’s full remark’s, click here.
Fracking Moratorium Now!
After the Cove Point Rally, activists marched the mile from the courthouse to the State House to greet legislators as they arrived for the first day of session. They had one powerful message: “Fracking Moratorium Now!” As legislators arrived at the State House, they were given waivers to sign away their right to protect their constituents from dangerous fracking; if they fail to act this session, they will have no chance to fight for the people who elected them.
This rally included speakers from across Maryland, including Lea Callahan, another Cove Point local, and Shilpa Shenvi, from PG county, who spoke about the potential for fracking in her neighborhood. “Gas companies are already making plans to frack in the Taylorsville Basin, which runs through Prince George’s County, where my family and I live. I’m calling on my legislators to take a stand this session and pass a legislative moratorium on fracking to protect constituents like me.”
State Delegate Heather Mizeur spoke about why she opposes fracking (watch the video below!). Mizeur is sponsoring a bill to implement a legislative moratorium on fracking in Maryland.
