Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Senate voted 35-to-10 Monday evening, March 27 to impose a statewide, permanent ban on hydraulic fracturing, a procedure better known as “fracking.” On March 17, Governor Larry Hogan announced his support for the proposed fracking ban. The governor’s announcement came one week after the House of Delegates voted to impose the ban.
The ban is a victory for regional environmentalists. Maryland League of Conservation Voters’ Executive Director Karla Raettig stated Monday night, “when we began working on this issue seven years ago, we knew this would be an uphill battle. Over the years since passing the moratorium in 2015, the science and policy are now in alignment to protect all Marylanders from fracking.”
Ann Bristow, Garrett County resident, and commissioner, stated, “never believe when someone tells you that an organized movement can’t produce change against overwhelming odds. We are proving otherwise. Never rely on a politician who refuses to base public policy in science.”
“Maryland wisely decided in recent years not to jump on the fracking bandwagon without understanding the true risks,” said Dr. Gina Angiola, member of the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Environmentalists cite fracking for natural resources such as natural gas as the cause of water supply contaminations and earthquakes, among other ecological disasters.
Hogan is expected to sign the bill into law later this week.
Last week Maryland Petroleum Council (MPC) Executive Director Drew Cobbs said that Governor Hogan’s announced support for a ban of hydraulic fracturing to develop natural gas resources in Maryland was a premature decision. “Maryland families and opportunities for job creation have lost out to the whims of a vocal minority–inconsistent with the governor’s vision to create well-paying jobs in Maryland. This political outcome fails Maryland, whose voters support development of natural gas resources, and the hardworking men and women in Western Maryland who were looking forward to thousands of jobs.Previous Governor O’Malley was prepared to allow hydraulic fracturing in Western Maryland with strict safeguards, among the most restrictive in the United States. This recognized the opportunity represented by energy development for new job creation and economic benefits and the success of our neighboring states. Any uninformed ban on a proven technology used for over 60 years is short-sighted and ignores the robust science that supports the innovative process used next door in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have fueled the American energy renaissance that Maryland benefits from year-round. Natural gas produced from hydraulic fracturing has driven emissions in the U.S. power sector to 25-year lows, and household budgets across the nation grew in 2015 by $1,337 due to utility and other energy-related savings in 2015. Cutting off opportunities for local production could undermine the benefits that Maryland families and consumers are already seeing today.”