A judge?s decision upholding a Baltimore County law banning liquefied natural gas facilities from sensitive coastal areas could benefit citizens and governments nationwide battling proposals in their communities, they said Monday.
Opponents of LNG proposals from New York to Oregon said they are reviewing U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett?s decision upholding a county law adding LNG terminals to a list of facilities banned within 1,000 feet of Chesapeake Bay wetlands. In his opinion issued Friday, Bennett ruled the law does not constitute a change in the state?s Coastal Zone Management program ? which requiresfederal approval ? but “rather an implementation of it at the local level.”
The law was the county?s second legislative attempt to block a $400 million facility near the Key Bridge, and activists elsewhere said the decision could help their efforts against similar proposals.
“The proposal here is smack in the middle of a fish habitat,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment in Long Island, N.Y. “This reaffirms state?s rights in making adjustments to its coastal zone management program.”
In Oregon, local officials are considering denying a zoning change to block an LNG proposal, said Dan Serres with the Columbia River Clean Energy Coalition, which is spearheading opposition.
Three proposals include hundreds of miles of pipeline through sensitive areas in the state?s coastal zone, he said.
“These proposals all impact pristine habitats in one way or the other,” Serres said. “This is something we?re definitely going to look at.”
Company officials have indicated they will appeal Bennett?s decision. Project Director Kent Morton said AES will continue to “explore all of our options.”
