Dear Marylanders,
As we fight back against big polluters and a government that too often caters to them, it’s always exciting when we can report some good news. Earlier this spring, CCANers helped bring about a major clean energy victory that has national implications. After receiving thousands of emails from people across the country, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley vetoed a bill that would have killed the largest utility-scale wind power farm currently under development in Maryland, all because of totally resolvable military radar testing concerns. The veto clears the path for development of a $1 billion wind power industry across Maryland’s Eastern Shore region.
While we celebrate this move towards clean energy, we continue to resist a massive dirty energy threat: Dominion Resources’ proposed fracked gas export facility at Cove Point. Just two weeks ago, a federal study showed that U.S. gas exports to Asia would likely be worse than burning coal for the atmosphere over the next 20 years. Worse! But the White House and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) still aren’t getting the message.
As decisions near this summer, we’re gearing up to send a strong message to Washington. Here are two actions you can take:

• On Thursday, June 26 at 8 pm, dial in to the National Call to Stop Fracked Gas Exports to learn more about the July 13th mass rally in Washington. Rev. Lennox Yearwood, scientist Tony Ingraffea, Pennsylvania no-fracking leader Karen Feridun, and more will join this conference call at 559-726-1200 and code 776632.

• Sign up to protest at the Capitol and march to FERC’s headquarters on July 13th. Join me and activists from across the mid-Atlantic and beyond for this first-of-its-kind national gathering against fracked gas exports.

Our movement is bigger than ever just as our action now is more critical than ever. In response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s flawed Environmental Assessment for Cove Point, Americans submitted more than 150,000 comments to FERC saying no to Cove Point. That record number of comments for a fracked gas export project let FERC know that the public wants clean energy — not dirty, dangerous gas exports.
The major bright spot in recent weeks came when President Obama’s administration released the nation’s first mandatory limits on carbon pollution from power plants. While the rules aren’t as strong as the science shows is needed, they are a welcome shift toward meaningful climate action out of Washington. CCAN will be working to ensure they are implemented in a way that speeds the transition to clean energy — not more fracked gas — in our region.
Here are even more ways you can take action with CCAN this summer…
MARYLAND: Join the conference call June 26 at 8 PM eastern time to hear from leaders in the movement to stop gas exports and learn the latest on the July 13th mass rally in Washington. Join in at the time of the call by dialing 559-726-1200 and using code 776632. Speakers will include scientist Tony Ingraffea, Pennsylvania no-fracking leader Karen Feridun, Hip Hop Caucus president Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Food & Water Watch leader Emily Wurth, and myself. You’ll be able to ask questions and learn more about the exciting role you can play in attending the rally in Washington.
DC/NATIONAL: Join the Climate Ride! This year, from September 20th – 24th, 2014, CCAN board members, staff and friends will take part in a five-day bike ride from New York City to the Capitol steps in DC. Learn more about the ride and sign up here to join us!
VIRGINIA: Join the Virginia Summer Activist Call with CCANers from around the state on Monday, June 30th at 7pm. We’ll recap our spring successes and talk about how we’ll push even further for climate solutions in Virginia this summer. From collecting thousands of petitions to the State Corporation Commission, to creatively exposing Dominion’s greenwashing at Earth Day festivals, to earning unprecedented investor support for climate resolutions at Dominion’s annual shareholder meeting, we’ve hit Dominion where the company is most vulnerable — its public image and it’s bottom line — thanks to activists like you. RSVP here for our first statewide call of the summer!
These last few months have made it clear; we have a lot to do. That’s why, on July 13th, thousands of Americans will converge in Washington DC to send a strong message to FERC: Stop Gas Exports and Stop Cove Point. Learn more about the biggest event to date in the fight to stop Cove Point and sign up to be a part of it here.
Onward,

Mike Tidwell