WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin expressed disappointment that the Senate failed to include a provision in the energy bill that would restore the authority of state and local governments in decisions concerning the location and construction of new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals.
In Maryland, the AES Sparrows Point LNG, LLC and Mid-Atlantic Express, LLC have proposed building a new terminal near a densely-populated area of Baltimore. The Senators introduced the legislation in the CLEAN Energy Act, which would require the Army Corps of Engineers to secure the approval of state governors before issuing permits to construct new LNG terminals.
“While I am disappointed that this provision was not included in the Energy bill now being considered by the Senate, I am committed to ensuring that state and local governments have an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process regarding the location of these plants,” said Senator Cardin. “Communities that bear the burden of hosting these facilities should have a meaningful voice in where they are located.”
