Category: Press Releases

Fracking moratorium comes one vote shy of passing in MD Senate committee

For Immediate Release
March 7, 2013

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

Advocates say near-miss on victory will only deepen movement to protect state residents from impacts of high-risk drilling

ANNAPOLIS—State legislation to place a statutory moratorium on the controversial gas drilling practice known as fracking came within one vote of passing yesterday in the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs committee of the Maryland Senate. The oil and gas industry had lobbied heavily against the bill (SB 601) in the face of widespread grassroots support and polling data showing Maryland voters overwhelmingly support legislative action on the issue of fracking.

Maryland

Fracking Poll: Broad and growing majority of MD voters support pause for studies

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2013

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

Polling shows seventy-eight percent of Marylanders support approach of moratorium bill; voters want General Assembly to join Governor’s agencies in deciding fate of fracking in the state

ANNAPOLIS—Poll results released today, on the eve of a key Senate hearing on the issue of fracking, show that an overwhelming and growing majority of Maryland voters want legislators to require thorough study of the risks of fracking before any drilling is permitted in the state. Advocates and policymakers pointed to the polling as strong evidence that the fracking moratorium bill (SB 601) before the General Assembly is a common-sense approach that reflects the will of state voters.

More than three-fourths of registered voters surveyed, or 78 percent, want the General Assembly to require environmental and safety studies for fracking, a jump in support of seven points from similar polling conducted last spring. Support for mandating studies aligns across party, regional and racial lines — including 76 percent of Western Marylanders, 55 percent of Republicans and a very strong 95 percent of African Americans. The support is also notably intense. Fifty-eight percent of respondents felt strongly that health and safety studies must come before fracking. Three times as many respondents would vote for a legislator who supports studies as would vote against that legislator.

Maryland

Regional climate leader joins historic act of civil disobedience to stop Keystone XL pipeline

CCAN director Mike Tidwell joins Julian Bond, Bill McKibben, Michael Brune and nearly 50 other environmental, civil rights and community leaders arrested in front of White House in call for action on climate

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nearly fifty environmental and civil rights leaders from across the nation — including Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network — joined together today in an historic display of peaceful civil disobedience at the White House. They demanded that President Obama reject the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline and address climate disruption with the force and urgency required to protect people now and in future generations.

Annapolis legislators unveil three-point fracking moratorium plan

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2013

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

Moratorium bill introduced in the House of Delegates on the heels of Baltimore City Council vote to freeze fracking process in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS—Maryland legislators today unveiled a new, three-point plan to establish a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – for natural gas in the state. The legislation introduced today comes in the wake of new federal studies highlighting potential harm from fracking and on the same week that the Baltimore City Council voted to endorse a fracking moratorium.

fracking Maryland

CCAN Statement: General Assembly turns its back on Virginia clean energy

For Immediate Release
February 1, 2013

Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

Cuccinelli-backed legislation to effectively nix Virginia’s clean electricity standard passes; new mandatory law is now imperative, advocates say

RICHMOND—The Virginia Senate today passed a far-reaching and controversial electric utility bill (SB1339) backed by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that includes provisions to dismantle the state’s only broad clean electricity standard, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The bill passed today will render the law practically meaningless by repealing the performance incentive for utilities to meet their clean energy goals, which were already voluntary.

Recognizing that the RPS law was not living up to its intent to bring new clean energy to the commonwealth, state environmental and health advocates had joined thousands of Virginians over the past year in calling on lawmakers to strengthen the law’s standards, for instance by requiring utility companies to earn the performance incentives with Virginia-generated wind and solar power.

Virginia

Hybrid owners and activists protest clean-cars tax and other attacks on climate solutions in Richmond

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2013

Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

Hybrid car owners lead parade around Capitol to oppose series of irresponsible, anti-environment proposals—including new hybrid car tax, repeal of gas tax, and rollback of clean energy law

RICHMOND—Owners of hybrid and electric vehicles from across the state converged at the Capitol on Thursday to protest transportation and energy legislation before the General Assembly that would penalize Virginians driving cleaner cars, while rolling back other policies meant to promote clean electricity and reduce planet-warming pollution.

Virginia

Hundreds of activists go for a cold Potomac swim to fight climate change

For Immediate Release
January 26, 2013

Contact:
Kelly Trout, 717-439-0346 (c), 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

Hundreds of activists go for a cold Potomac swim to fight climate change

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD—In the wake of the hottest year in U.S. history, marked by Hurricane Sandy and other devastating weather extremes, more than 150 people jumped into the Potomac River on Saturday morning to deliver an urgent call for stronger climate action. Activists joined in the “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge, now in its eighth year, to raise awareness and funds for local, state and federal solutions to global warming.

DC Maryland Virginia

Broad coalition calls on Virginia lawmakers to strengthen state’s clean energy standard, not roll it back

For Immediate Release
January 24, 2013

Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

Environmental, health and faith organizations come together to urge the General Assembly not to repeal incentive for utilities to meet renewable energy goals

RICHMOND—A broad coalition of 23 local, state and national organizations released a statement today calling on Virginia lawmakers to strengthen the state’s clean energy standard, rather than repeal the incentive for utility companies to participate.

RPS Virginia

Governor O’Malley announces 2013 offshore wind bill with 24 Senate co-sponsors

For Immediate Release
January 22, 2013

Contact:
Mike Tidwell, (240) 460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org
Tom Carlson, (651) 587-0730, tom@chesapeakeclimate.org

Announcement follows release of a new poll showing 72% of Maryland voters support investment in offshore wind development

ANNAPOLIS—Governor Martin O’Malley was joined by members of the General Assembly and advocates from across the state today to announce the introduction of a bill to spur development of Maryland’s offshore wind energy resource.

Maryland offshore wind

Poll: Virginians oppose repeal of state’s clean electricity standard by more than 2-1 margin

For Immediate Release

January 22, 2013

Contact:

Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org

Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

As House committee considers Cuccinelli-Dominion backed repeal legislation, new statewide poll shows broad support among Virginians for maintaining clean energy law, more climate action

RICHMOND—Polling data released today shows that a strong majority of Virginians—67 percent—want the General Assembly to maintain the state’s clean electricity standard, in contrast to only a quarter of respondents who would back a repeal. The results, advocates said, should signal to state lawmakers that legislation backed by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Dominion Power to effectively repeal the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) law is at odds with the wishes of Virginians. (View the poll results.)