Category: Press Releases

The Maryland House of Delegates passed a bill to ban fracking by a vote of 97 to 40. Advocates now call on the Senate to pass the ban bill.

Annapolis, MD —  The Maryland House of Delegates passed a milestone fracking ban bill today with unprecedented bipartisan support.  House Bill 1325, which passed by a vote of 97 to 40, would ban hydraulic fracturing statewide.
Public opposition to the practice has grown over the past year, as over a dozen counties and cities across the state have already passed local resolutions and ordinances to ban fracking and more than 1,000 Marylanders marched through the state capitol last week to demand a fracking ban.
“We cannot afford to put our health, our ecology, or the growing economy of Western Maryland at risk for fracking.  That is why a total ban is necessary and supported by the people of Maryland,” said Kumar Barve, Chairman of the House Environment & Transportation Committee that put forth the bill.
“As a longtime proponent of legislative initiatives to protect Maryland from the dangers of fracking, I commend the Maryland House of Delegates for voting in support of a fracking ban,” said Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo who introduced the bill. “Across the country, fracking is polluting the air and water of countless communities and making people sick. The passing of this bill is a huge step forward in securing Maryland as a national leader in combating climate change and protecting our citizens.”
“Marylanders have made it loud and clear that they want to keep the reckless oil and gas industry out of our state. With this vote, the House has listened to our constituents and learned from the destruction that other states already face to avoid damage to our own precious natural resources,” said Shane Robinson, Montgomery County Delegate. “Our quest for economic opportunities and growth in Maryland will not come at the expense of safe drinking water, clean air, public health and a thriving tourism industry.”
Residents from across the state have sent more than 35,000 petitions and letters in support of a ban to the General Assembly. More than 200 businesses, the majority from Western Maryland, and over 200 Maryland health professionals sent letters to the General Assembly in support of the bill.
“The passing of the fracking ban bill through the House by a 57 vote margin is truly a watershed moment for Maryland,” said Mitch Jones, Senior Policy Advocate at Food & Water Watch. “The current overwhelming support from Maryland delegates shows an understanding that without a ban, public health and local businesses cannot be protected. We applaud this critical step towards preserving the resources and economy of Maryland and call on the Senate to follow the lead of the House.”
“This is a great victory for all of Maryland for our economic future, our public health, and preserving our natural resources for generations to come,” said Karla Raettig, Executive Director of Maryland League of Conservation Voters. “We applaud the Maryland General Assembly House for their bipartisan action in protecting their constituents from this dangerous practice and urge the Senate chamber to do the same.”
“Today, the Maryland House of Delegates stood up for the people of Maryland in passing a ban on fracking,” said Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “This bill’s passage is the culmination of an immense grassroots movement that has been growing for years. We commend the Maryland House for working to protect the health of their citizens and the climate over Big Oil profits.”

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Contact: Jackie Filson, Food & Water Watch; 202-683-2538; jfilson@fwwatch.org

CCAN praises landmark energy efficiency legislation

Marylanders are expected to save $11.7 billion on energy bills over the next ten years with the passage of Senate Bill 184.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Senate today gave approval to the strongest legislation in a decade designed to advance energy efficiency in the state. By a vote of 32-14, the chamber voted to pass Senate Bill 184. This bill would codify the “EmPOWER Maryland” program, ensuring that Maryland remains a national leader on energy efficiency in the electricity sector. The House passed a very similar version of this bill last week, meaning final legislation will likely be sent to Governor Hogan soon.

In July 2015, the Maryland Public Service Commission issued an order to strengthen the EmPOWER Maryland program, the state’s signature energy-efficiency program, by setting a 2 percent energy savings goal and updating the cost-effectiveness criteria. SB 184 would codify that order and ensure EmPOWER’s continued success in Maryland. The legislation would also make Maryland a top ten energy-efficiency state.

Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, released the following statement:

“Today, the Maryland Senate voted to fight climate change, create jobs, and save energy dollars for state ratepayers. SB 184 will ensure that Maryland remains a top ten energy-efficiency state. The least expensive way to meet Maryland’s future energy demand is to use less energy. On a dollar-for-dollar basis, it costs less to save energy through energy efficiency than it does to generate that same amount of energy from any type of power plant. SB 184 is common sense legislation, and its passage will help Maryland transition to a clean energy economy.”

MORE BACKGROUND: The current “EmPOWER Maryland” program has saved over 51 million megawatt-hours of electricity, resulting in more than $4 billion in total customer bill savings over the life of the measures. That’s the equivalent of enough electricity to power 850,000 residential customers for five years. The program has also created more than 2,000 Maryland jobs, and a new study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that the program could create up to 68,000 new jobs in the state over the next 10 years.

With passage of SB 184, Maryland families and businesses are expected save $11.7 billion on their energy bills over the next ten years, and reduce the energy equivalent of closing 5 coal-fired plants over the next ten years, while cutting the carbon emissions of nearly 200,000 cars annually.

CONTACT:

Denise Robbins, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org, 608-620-8819,
Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Come to March on April 29th to support action on climate and make your voice heard!
Washington, DC — To fight back the Trump administration’s reported attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency, the People’s Climate Movement is calling on the public to join the April 29 March for Climate, Jobs and Justice.
In undoing hard-won protections of the health of our communities and climate, the Trump administration plans to drastically slash the EPA budget by at least 20 percent, according to multiple sources. The administration’s plan to eliminate one-fifth of the department would put more than 3,000 people out of work. Just this morning, EPA chief Scott Pruitt scrapped the rule requiring the oil and gas industry to report methane pollution.
Before the EPA’s founding in 1970, urban cities from Los Angeles to New York City were plagued with heavy pollution, deeming them unrecognizable to the average person today. For nearly 50 years, the Environmental Protection Agency has been a crucial governmental tool in protection of the health and safety of people and planet.
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order attempting to roll back the waters of the United States rule adopted by the Obama administration, denying clean water to one out of three people in the US. Later that same evening, Trump gave his first address to Congress during which he paid lip service to clean air and water, but failed to mention the present risks of climate change.
The movements that turned out over 400,000 people into the streets of New York City for the 2014 People’s Climate March are bringing the fight to Washington, DC on April 29. Through this mobilization and beyond, our broad movement will demonstrate the mass resistance to the systems that attempt to divide us, while highlighting positive solutions needed to build the brighter future we know is possible.
 
Contact: Paul Gestos, paul@peoplesclimate.org, +1 (646) 732-0041
Lindsay Meiman, lindsay@350.org, +1 (347) 460-9082

Photo taken by Stephen Melkisethian

In response to the introduction of pro-fracking legislation, several leaders and advocates spoke out for the citizens of Maryland in favor of a ban on fracking.
ANNAPOLIS – With the introduction late last week of legislation in the state Senate that would pave the way for fracking in Maryland, a wide array of advocates and community leaders are condemning the bill and reaffirming broad statewide support for a permanent ban on fracking now. On Friday, Senator Joan Carter Conway introduced SB 862, legislation that would enable the extreme gas drilling and extraction method known as fracking to begin in Maryland as early as 2019. Senate Bill 862 was co-sponsored by Senate President Mike Miller along with ten Republican senators. Meanwhile, SB 740, a bill that would permanently ban fracking in Maryland, has been introduced by Senator Bobby Zirkin with strong initial support in the Senate.
Marylanders want a fracking ban: a Washington Post poll in October 2016 revealed more than 60 percent of Maryland voters are opposed to fracking in the state.
In response, members of the Don’t Frack Maryland coalition made the following statements:
Paul Roberts, President of Citizen Shale in Garrett County said, “The pro-fracking bill introduced by Democratic Senate leadership, with support of Republican fracking proponents, is not supported by those of us in western Maryland who would be immediately impacted. No Marylander should ever be asked to support a law that condemns others in our state to the health and economic harms that fracking has done in neighboring states.”
“You can’t be an environmental champion and also support fracking- period,” said Thomas Meyer, senior Maryland organizer with Food & Water Watch. “Senator Conway’s bill is just another attempt by so-called environmentalists to fit the camel that is fracking through the eye of a needle. Fracking will never be safe and should never be allowed. Senators should oppose Conway’s gift to the oil and gas industry, and vote to ban fracking in Maryland once and for all.”
“By promoting yet another set of fracking regulations and a referendum, the Senate leadership is evading its responsibility to protect public health.  No regulations can adequately protect. And no one should be asked to vote on whether or not to poison neighbors,”  said Gina Angiola, MD, Chesapeake PSR.
“Maryland voters overwhelmingly support a ban on fracking, NOT another moratorium,” said Brooke Harper, Maryland Field Director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “No regulations will ever be able to protect our economy, our climate, or our health from the harms of fracking. We applaud Senator Zirkin and the 22 other senators who stood up for their constituents by introducing a permanent, statewide fracking ban — and we hope our legislators won’t compromise our well-being by supporting a moratorium.”
“Sierra Club believes that all Marylanders have the right to breathe clean air and drink clean water. Fracking should not be part of Maryland’s energy future,” said Josh Tulkin, director of the Maryland Sierra Club. “Maryland should continue to focus on bringing clean energy to the state and not be distracted by the fracking’s false promises.”
Dr. Ann Bristow, former commissioner on the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Initiative, said, “SB 862’s county-by-county referendum attempts to take a toxic industrial practice and pretend that it’s harmful effects will remain in Garrett and Allegany counties, leaving the rest of the State untouched — as if the production of natural gas in Garrett County will get to market without being compressed and piped through most of the State, as if the polluted air will stop at the the county border, as if the contaminated water won’t flow all the way down the Potomac to the Chesapeake bay, as if destruction of the State’s 2nd highest producing tourism economy won’t affect the State’s coffers, as if we’re not all somehow connected.” 
Karla Raettig, Executive Director of Maryland League of Conservation Voters said, “We strongly support Senator Zirkin’s fracking ban bill. Leadership requires taking a firm stance on tough issues and we applaud Senator Zirkin and his co-sponsors for stepping up.”
“We can’t sacrifice our clean water resources to a boom and bust dirty energy industry. Waterkeepers and their thousands of members throughout the region strongly support a bill that bans fracking in Maryland,” said Robin Broder, Waterkeepers Chesapeake Board Member. “We thank Senator Zirkin and the 22 senators who recognized the need to protect our drinking water resources and public health and introduced a bill banning fracking statewide.”
“The proposed referendum bill is a thinly disguised pro-fracking bill. This referendum would also invite copious amounts of fracking-industry cash for a divisive and misleading ad campaign,” said Elisabeth Hoffman of Howard County Climate Action. “To promote a stable climate and ensure the health of all Marylanders, we stand wholeheartedly behind Sen. Zirkin’s fracking ban bill.”
“The delegate for the area that is most likely to be fracked says that property values are already falling because people are afraid of fracking. Why would you prolong this question any longer and wait for property values to fall even more?” said Dale and Jackie Sams, co-founders of Don’t Frack Western Maryland.
 
Contact: Paul Roberts, paulr@deepcreekcellars.com, 240-580-4008
Jackie Filson, jfilson@fwwatch.org, 202-683-2538

The Clean Energy Jobs Act will be enacted, helping to create over 1,000 jobs, improve air quality, and encourage new clean energy in the state.
ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Senate voted 32-13 to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of the Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2016 (SB 921/HB 1106), legislation that will accelerate the state’s transition to clean energy.
The bill raises Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard requirement to 25 percent by 2020, including boosting the solar “carve-out” to 2.5 percent by 2020. It will create incentives for roughly 1,300 megawatts of new clean energy in Maryland and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 2.7 million metric tons per year, which will significantly improve the state’s air quality while preventing 25 to 50 premature deaths per year. The legislation will create over 1,000 living-wage, family-sustaining jobs annually through 2020 in the state’s growing clean energy sector, and increase net economic growth by up to $600 million per year due to better health outcomes and new solar construction. Hogan’s veto put all of those jobs at risk and would have forced many existing clean energy companies to leave the state.
Mike Tidwell, director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, released the following statement:
“Today, the Maryland Senate put the final touches on a clean energy bill of true national significance. While President Trump appoints the CEO of Exxon to obstruct global climate efforts, states like Maryland will fight back here at home for good jobs, cleaner air, and truly responsive government. Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland thought he could confuse state voters by siding with polluters over good-paying solar and wind jobs. Today, the people of Maryland have spoken and Hogan should listen.”
 
Contact:
Mike Tidwell, Chesapeake Climate Action Network
240-460-5838; mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org
Denise Robbins, Chesapeake Climate Action Network
240-396-2022, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org

12th annual Polar Bear Plunge sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network draws 160+ activists, families, and local leaders to National Harbor, Md.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—One week after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, and on the heels of headlines confirming three record-breaking hot years in a row, at least 160 DC-area residents took an ice-cold “plunge” into the Potomac River on Saturday to stand up for progressive climate solutions and stand against Trump’s anti-climate agenda.
The annual “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge, now in its 12th year, raises awareness about the climate crisis while raising funds to support the Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s work for clean energy solutions across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. This year’s plunge builds upon the momentum seen at the historic Women’s March, where millions gathered across the country to oppose Trump’s anti-democratic agenda, including his environmental policies.
Saturday’s plunge drew local leaders, including Councilmember Mary Cheh of D.C.’s Ward 3, Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus, along with committed plungers of all ages—[from local high school students to Franciscan priests.
“We’re here today to show our leaders we will get up and FIGHT for climate action, even if it means freezing our toes off,” said Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “With a climate denier taking office as president just weeks after the third-straight hottest year on record, we need bold, aggressive global warming policies on the state and local level now more than ever.”
The year 2016 was the third-straight hottest year ever recorded on Earth, according to NASA scientists, and the DC region experienced devastating weather events hitting home. Meanwhile, President Trump has promised to rescind current climate policies, and has already taken extreme measures to silence and de-fund the Environmental Protection Agency and greenlight dangerous fossil fuel projects.
“With an election that’s left us reeling, and the natural world roaring its testimony about the urgency of repairing our climate, we’re taking a plunge of courage today with our friends and allies,” said Karen Leu of Interfaith Power & Light.
CCAN is committed to resisting the anti-climate policies from Donald Trump and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. In 2017, the group’s priorities include passing legislation to ban fracking in Maryland, stopping the dangerous fracked-gas pipelines in Virginia, and generating the first-ever state funds to fight flooding in coastal Virginia communities, and launching a groundbreaking carbon tax and rebate in D.C.
Each year, non-profit and community organizations across the region partner with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network on the plunge, joining the icy dip and also raising money to support their shared missions.
“As the Potomac Riverkeeper, I felt it was important to take part in the Polar Bear Plunge to support climate change and clean water,” said Dean Noujaks, the Potomac Riverkeeper.
“We at Climate First! appreciate the opportunity to freeze our ??? off as we raise money for the climate at the Polar Bear Plunge,” said Ted Conwell, Founder and Lead Organizer of Climate First! “In view of the pressing science and the new US. administration’s proposed terrible policies regarding climate protection, it seems that we all should become ‘polar bears’ for the Plunge every year.”
“Envision Frederick County board members and staff really don’t want to plunge into the icy Potomac,” said Executive Director Kai Hagen. “But we’re doing it anyway, to support the most effective organization in our region fighting the most serious threat there is to our planet, including our community and everyone we know.”
SPONSORS: The annual plunge is hosted by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. The event is co-sponsored by 350 Loudoun, All Souls Church Unitarian, Audubon Naturalist Society, Blue Water Baltimore, Climate First!, Community Forklift, Envision Frederick County, Franciscan Action Network, Green Neighbors, Interfaith Power & Light, Montgomery County Conservation Corps, and Potomac Riverkeeper Network.
BUSINESS PARTNERS: Clyde’s Restaurant Group, Howard County Citizens’ Climate Lobby, McLoone’s Pier House, Orvis Sporting Traditions, Patagonia, REI Co-op, Perfect Settings, Save vs. Poison Productions, Takoma Bicycle, Waste Neutral, Zeke’s Coffee.
 
Find more information on the 2017 Polar Bear Plunge at www.keepwintercold.org