Statewide MD

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

3 Anti-Drilling MD Commissioners Want Fracking Delayed…Surprise!
February 25, 2014February 25, 2014

It’s been a loooong road in Maryland, evaluating whether or not they should, and if so how, to move forward with hydraulic fracturing of shale in two counties in the state. Failed Gov. Martin O’Malley appointed a commission nearly three years ago to study it. A couple of studies have been created with two more still to go–due by August 1st of this year. The two remaining studies are nebulous “heath effects” (sound familiar?) and economic impacts from drilling. MDN has always joked that Maryland was the only state more dysfunctional than New York when it comes to shale drilling. We were wrong–New York is at the bottom of the heap. We think Maryland could actually beat us to the drill bit. Maybe.

However, we noticed an op-ed written by three members of the Maryland Safe-Drilling Advisory Commission, all three anti-drilling, that argues Maryland should be *more* like New York and delay. They say, in essence, “Ain’t no way those two studies can done in time.” So the answer? Delay. Hey, the delay strategy has worked in spades for NY–why not try it in MD? Here’s the op-ed (and what you get when you appoint anti-drillers to a drilling commission)…
Read More “3 Anti-Drilling MD Commissioners Want Fracking Delayed…Surprise!”
Maryland | Statewide MD

MD Marcellus Commission Survey: With Careful Planning Drilling OK
February 5, 2014February 5, 2014

In June 2011, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed an Executive Order creating the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Initiative, his way of appearing to address the issue of shale drilling in the state without really addressing it. Since that time the state has been more or less mired in “discussions” about whether, and how, to proceed with Marcellus Shale drilling. There’s only two counties in far western MD that even have recoverable Marcellus Shale gas, but Maryland is so far left on the political spectrum, lawmakers address each other as “comrade” in the hallways in Annapolis. It’s no surprise they’re not anywhere close to allowing drilling.

As part of the Executive Order the Initiative established an Advisory Commission, made up of a number of good people and a few rotten anti-drilling apples. Mostly good, deliberative, smart people sit on the Commission. One of the documents commissioners helped create last summer was a draft “best practices in shale drilling” report (for a copy, see: Maryland Releases Draft “Best Practices” in Shale Drilling Report). Of the 15 people on the Commission, 10 of them filled out a survey last fall about the draft best practices document in an effort to pinpoint areas of disagreement so the commissioners could discuss those issues at scheduled meetings. The survey responses from the 10 Commissioners (full copy of the survey embedded below) show a deliberative, careful, considered approach to shale drilling in the state–which we applaud. Too bad no one in Annapolis is paying attention…
Read More “MD Marcellus Commission Survey: With Careful Planning Drilling OK”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD

Article Falsely Implies Driller Interested in S Maryland Drilling
January 20, 2014January 20, 2014

A highly misleading headline (and article) running in an AOL-based “local” Patch publication trumpets, “Energy Company Eyeing Gas Basin that Runs Under Southern Maryland.” The “deck” or smaller headline under it goes on to reinforce this misconception by saying, “A gas basin underneath five counties in Southern Maryland is drawing a Texas-based energy company’s attention.” Both statements are, in a way true. However, the impression they leave–that a Texas driller is actively looking to lease land in southern MD for shale drilling, is 100% false. Hence another propaganda campaign is born by another anti-drilling “reporter.”

This particular falsehood is aimed at whipping up Marylanders against common sense regulations that would allow shale drilling in the Marcellus–which is only found under parts of two MD counties in extreme western Maryland’s panhandle area–Garrett and Allegany counties. Landowners in that area have been stymied almost as along as landowners in New York State–locked in an ongoing moratorium while politicians dither and preen. MDN has already told you about the shale basin mentioned in this new Patch story which drillers want to tap–in Virginia (see Fracking Finally on the Way in Virginia? Maybe Yes, Maybe No). The same basin underlying parts of VA, called the Taylorsville, underlies a few counties in southern MD too. But not one driller has mentioned leasing any land in anti-drilling MD. Quite the opposite–they’re staying away from Maryland like it’s radioactive…
Read More “Article Falsely Implies Driller Interested in S Maryland Drilling”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Anti-Fracking “Madness” Continues – Crazies on the March
December 30, 2013December 30, 2013

The anti-drilling crazies in Maryland are on the march, literally! A coalition of extremist so-called “environmental” groups plan to march on Annapolis on the opening day of the General Assembly session to urge legislators to ban shale drilling. No, they are not demanding a moratorium–they are demanding an outright and permanent ban on fracking. How do you reason with unreasonable people? You don’t. You defeat them. And that’s what pro-drilling and clear-thinking people must do in Maryland. There is no sane debate with a crazy people.

Here’s a Maryland “madness” update:
Read More “Maryland Anti-Fracking “Madness” Continues – Crazies on the March”
Allegany County | Garrett County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Update: Marcellus Drilling a Distant & Ellusive Dream
December 24, 2013December 24, 2013

A periodic check on the state of shale drilling in Maryland shows that like New York, Maryland has all but killed drilling in their state with a long, drawn-out, so-called “review” of fracking. The price of gas is so low, and the prospects and ease of drilling in neighboring states like PA, WV and OH is so convenient, that most energy companies have simply said “bye bye” to the two counties in western MD that contain recoverable Marcellus Shale gas.

Will there ever be drilling in MD? Oh perhaps one day, if Maryland politicians (mostly Democrats) ever get off the metaphorical pot and get regulations adopted to allow it. However, at this point the prospects are pretty grim. Energy companies are letting years-old leases lapse, writing them off as losses and not re-signing, which is bad news for Maryland landowners in Garrett and Allegany counties. All four companies that had previously filed for permits to drill shale wells have withdrawn those permits. In other words, Marcellus drilling in MD is, at this point, dead as a door nail. Here’s an update on the MD situation from the “helpful” AP:
Read More “Maryland Update: Marcellus Drilling a Distant & Ellusive Dream”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD

Energy Deniers Ask Maryland Gov to Abandon Safe Fracking Path
September 13, 2013September 13, 2013

A group of extremist anti-drilling organizations, headed by the odious (and misnamed) Food & Water Watch, issued a press release to a single person yesterday–Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley–to ask him to abandon efforts at safe fracking in the state. These cuckoo organizations want no fracking–forever. They want a so-called sustainable energy nirvana now, which means what they really want is shared misery (and rolling blackouts) among everyone because that’s what a complete change to alternative energy sources would entail. There’s no physical way for non-fossil fuel sources of energy to supply all of our energy needs now–and likely not for the next generation or two (if ever). It’s just not possible and they know it, but they deny it. So we’ll call them “energy deniers.”

Here’s the missive issued yesterday by these anti-drilling extremists flying under the banner of Marylanders Against Fracking:
Read More “Energy Deniers Ask Maryland Gov to Abandon Safe Fracking Path”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD

Celebrate! Dominion Wins DOE Approval for MD LNG Export Facility
September 12, 2013

It’s been a long, hard fight. Dominion has finally won approval from the Dept. of Energy (thank you new Secretary Ernest “Hair” Moniz!) to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility at their Cove Point, Maryland location. The LNG facility will allow Dominion to super-cool and condense natural gas to a liquid state–Marcellus and Utica Shale gas–and export it to India and Japan, countries who are allies of the United States but don’t have a free trade agreement with us. This is great news for those two countries who previously signed deals with Dominion to take 100% of the LNG the Cove Point facility can produce (see Dominion’s Cove Point LNG Facility Achieves Important Milestones). It’s also great news for Maryland: Dominion will spend between $3.4-$3.8 billion to build the plant.

The new facility has been opposed by the Sierra Club and other well-known anti-drilling organizations because they believe the facility will encourage more fracking (see Sierra Club, Others Trash Talk Cove Point LNG Export Terminal). With this approval from the DOE, Dominion says they plan to begin construction next year, in 2014, and that the facility will be online and shipping in 2017…
Read More “Celebrate! Dominion Wins DOE Approval for MD LNG Export Facility”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

MD Anti-Drilling Group Issues Challenges “Best Practices” Report
August 27, 2013August 27, 2013

In June, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released a draft report (dated August 2013) of “best practices for drilling and production that should be required” (see Maryland Releases Draft “Best Practices” in Shale Drilling Report for a full copy). A Maryland group calling itself Citizen Shale has just filed extensive comments–in essence a challenge–on that report. The group attempts to apply the veneer of impartiality by stating they are neither pro- nor anti-drilling and only interested in what’s best for the environment.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Citizen Shale is clearly, strongly anti-drilling and hope their comments and challenges to the recent best practices report will stall and stretch out the approval process for fracking in Maryland…
Read More “MD Anti-Drilling Group Issues Challenges “Best Practices” Report”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD

When Will DOE Approve Cove Point, MD LNG Export Facility?
August 26, 2013August 26, 2013

In early August the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) approved a project to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) via a facility along the Gulf Coast–in Lake Charles, LA (see Third Houston company gets LNG export approval). No doubt the DOE’s newly minted secretary, Ernest “Hair” Moniz, had a great deal to do with it (we affectionately call him Hair, if you’ve seen his picture, you know why). So far, Lake Charles is the third LNG export facility to receive a green light from the Obama administration over the past two years–all of them along the Gulf Coast.

What about a little LNG action along the East Coast–so we can export some of this abundant (and cheap!) Marcellus Shale gas? Dominion is still waiting for a green light from the DOE for their Cove Point, MD LNG project–a project heavily protested by the likes of the Sierra Club and other anti-fossil fuel groups. Japan and India–two good allies of the U.S.–are lined up and waiting, ready to buy the entire output of the Cove Point facility when/if it starts to ship…
Read More “When Will DOE Approve Cove Point, MD LNG Export Facility?”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD

Anti-Drilling Enviros Gradually Turning Maryland into Dystopia
August 9, 2013August 9, 2013

An excellent column appears today in the Gaithersburg Gazette by Blair Lee, chairman of the board of Lee Development Group in Silver Spring, MD. (BTW, who knew there were such strong voices of reason left in arguably the most liberal state in the union after Rhode Island?) Lee’s thesis in today’s column: The “fanciful”–we’d say harsh–environmental policies of leftists in Maryland state government threaten the state with a predictable economic collapse. It is a cautionary tale of what happens when anti-drilling/anti-fossil fuel/global warming true believers (“warmists”) get their hands on an entire state. Maryland’s policies exemplify the end result of warmists’ extreme views. And it sure ain’t pretty.

Like all Utopians, the policies of Maryland’s warmists are slowly-but-surely turning the state into a miserable dystopia, free of “evil” things like cars and single-family detached homes:
Read More “Anti-Drilling Enviros Gradually Turning Maryland into Dystopia”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Public Comment Session #2 on Drilling Best Practices
July 17, 2013July 17, 2013

For years, MDN has poked fun at the State of Maryland and has said, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that Maryland is the only state more dysfunctional than New York on the topic of hydraulic fracturing and shale drilling. Now? We’d say Maryland and New York are neck-in-neck in the race to screw up the biggest economic and jobs miracle in generations. But we’d still give Maryland a slight edge as being “most dysfunctional.” That dysfunction was on full display at yesterday’s second public meeting held by the Maryland Dept. of the Environment to receive comments on a draft best practices for shale drilling document–a document recently released by the governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission (see Maryland Releases Draft “Best Practices” in Shale Drilling Report for a copy).

The Baltimore Sun was on hand for yesterday’s second public meeting–held in Baltimore–and filed this report:
Read More “Maryland Public Comment Session #2 on Drilling Best Practices”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Gasland 2 Inspires MD Delegate to Offer Up New Frack Ban Bill
July 10, 2013July 9, 2013

Man they really know how to pick ’em in Maryland. A Maryland State Delegate, A. Shane Robinson (Democrat from the Washington, D.C. suburb of Montgomery County), performs his legislative homework and gets his up-to-date, cutting-edge research on the fracking issue by watching HBO. That’s what our generation has descended to. Del. Robinson tweeted during Gasland 2 on Monday night that he’s so worked up over fracking, he’s going to introduce another statewide ban bill when the legislature next meets. Thank God the Maryland legislature only meets for a few months at the beginning of each year.

Here’s more of Del. Robinson’s brilliance:
Read More “Gasland 2 Inspires MD Delegate to Offer Up New Frack Ban Bill”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Processing Plants | Statewide MD

Enviro Groups Once Again Ask FERC to Refuse Cove Point LNG Plant
July 10, 2013July 9, 2013

A small group of individuals pretending to be large groups of many people yesterday sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking them to reject the Cove Point, Maryland LNG (liquefied natural gas) export facility Dominion is planning to build because they, said groups, believe in scary climate change fairy tales (oceans rising, tornadoes swirling, hurricanes churning), and so, because they believe these fairy tales, FERC should refuse a permit to Dominion. Uh, right.

Bonus observation from the press release below from said so-called “environmental groups”: any time you see the word “Riverkeeper” in a group name, run the other way. Any time you see “Sierra Club” in the name, run the other way. They are radicals and frankly, off their collective rocker. Here’s the letter they sent yesterday:
Read More “Enviro Groups Once Again Ask FERC to Refuse Cove Point LNG Plant”
Allegany County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Releases Draft “Best Practices” in Shale Drilling Report
June 27, 2013June 27, 2013

On Tuesday, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released a draft report (dated August 2013) of “best practices for drilling and production that should be required” if (really big if) horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas is permitted in the Marcellus shale in Maryland (full copy of the draft report is embedded below). At least one county official in one of the two Maryland counties that actually has Marcellus Shale under it is concerned that drillers will take one look at the proposed regulations and say “no thanks” to Maryland when it comes to drilling. He’s right to be concerned…
Read More “Maryland Releases Draft “Best Practices” in Shale Drilling Report”
Energy Services | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD | U.S. Silica

U.S. Silica Getting $55K from Maryland to Expand HQ
June 21, 2013June 21, 2013

From the “we never knew this, how very interesting” department: U.S. Silica, one of the country’s largest sand and proppant companies providing frack sand to drillers around the country, is headquartered in…anti-drilling Maryland? Yep–HQ for U.S. Silica is Frederick, MD–not all that far from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Maryland, like New York, is currently in the long, slow process of shooting itself in the head on the issue of fracking and shale drilling (see Food & Water Watch Pushes for Fracking Ban in Maryland).

Anywho, although Maryland doesn’t want drilling in the state, they’re happy to enable it in other states. The City of Frederick and the state of Maryland want to keep U.S. Silica (and its jobs) in place and are willing to give them $55,000 to do it…
Read More “U.S. Silica Getting $55K from Maryland to Expand HQ”
Industrywide Issues | Maryland | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide MD | Statewide NY | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Boundaries of the Utica and Marcellus Shale (Maps)
June 13, 2013June 13, 2013

A brief post on the RealClearEnergy website presents what at first glance seems glaringly obvious to us: Most of the Marcellus Shale is underlain by the Utica Shale. But on second thought, perhaps it’s not so obvious to many people.

MDN has remind ourselves that new readers are accessing this site all the time–sometimes learning about the Marcellus and Utica Shale for the first time. So in the spirit of “refresher course” for some, and “here’s how it works” for others, below is that brief post, along with an excellent map. We’ve also included, for the first time ever, a series of maps from Vol. 2 of the 2012 Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook that show the boundaries for both the Marcellus and Utica Shale on state maps (PA, OH, WV, NY, MD) with counties identified on the maps (this is really cool stuff folks!)…
Read More “Boundaries of the Utica and Marcellus Shale (Maps)”