by Alex Acquisto, The Forecaster staff The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The Boston law firm Foley Hoag will defend the city against a lawsuit filed last month by Portland Pipe Line Corp. The City Council, as expected, unanimously approved the hiring Monday night. In the nine-count lawsuit, Portland Pipe Line and American Waterways Read More
Tar Sands Oil
Tar sands oil is the dirtiest and most climate-destructive form of oil in the world. When it spills, it is almost impossible to clean up. There was a proposal to bring tar sands oil through an existing nearly 70-year-old pipeline in Maine. It crosses some of Maine’s most pristine watersheds and ends at Casco Bay. This plan would have put our lakes, rivers, and coastal waters at risk, and threatened communities and drinking water from Sebago Lake along its path. NRCM was the first organization to bring the threat of tar sands to the public’s attention in Maine in 2009, and was a leader on this issue statewide.
Tar sands oil is one of the dirtiest forms of energy on the planet and is a growing threat in Maine and the Northeast. Extracted from huge open-pit mines in Alberta, Canada, tar sands oil is 20% more carbon intensive than conventional crude oil.
Sending tar sands crude oil to Maine would have required reversing an existing pipeline owned by Portland Montreal Pipe Line, a pipeline that passes next to Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply for more than 15% of Maine people. It would have endangered Casco Bay and our fishing and lobster industries. Many Maine cities and towns passed resolutions in opposition to transporting tar sands oil through their communities, and South Portland passed the Clear Skies Ordinance to protect their community.
South Portland Has Allies Against Portland Pipe Line Lawsuit
Alex Acquisto, The Forecaster Staff The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — Proponents of the city’s Clear Skies Ordinance this week said they will help the city fight an oil and shipping industry lawsuit that seeks to overturn the law. “Certainly we were prepared for this and knew that it certainly could happen,” Mary-Jane Ferrier of Read More
Oil, Shipping Industries Sue South Portland Over Tar Sands Ban They Argue Violates Their Constitutional Rights
By Nick McCrea, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A pipeline company and a water freight organization have filed suit against the city of South Portland, arguing an ordinance effectively banning the shipment of tar sands, or oil sands, from its waterfront violates their constitutional rights. The ordinance passed last Read More
Protect South Portland, Others Will Intervene in PPLC Suit Against City of South Portland
Protect South Portland news release South Portland—Portland Pipe Line Corp. filed suit against the City of South Portland today over the City’s landmark Clear Skies Ordinance, which was passed 6-1 by the City Council at the end of July. “We’re disappointed, to say the least,” said MJ Ferrier, spokeswoman for Protect South Portland, the several Read More
Portland Pipe Line Sues South Portland Over Ban on Loading Crude Oil
Adopted last summer, the city’s ordinance aims to prevent the flow of tar sands oil into Maine. By Edward D. Murphy, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The Portland Pipe Line Corp. filed a federal lawsuit against South Portland on Friday, seeking to overturn the city’s ban on loading crude oil into tankers in Read More
King’s Senate Committee Takes up Keystone Pipeline Bill
By Mal Leary MPBN news story Sen. Angus King starts serving on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this week, as the controversial Keystone Pipeline bill comes up for Senate consideration. Action on the legislation is expected by the end of the week. King says, for Congress, the issue is moving at beyond warp Read More
Senator Angus King Right on Keystone XL Pipeline
On behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, I want to express our deep appreciation for Senator Angus King’s vital vote that blocked legislation that would have allowed construction of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The pipeline would let Canadian companies pump toxic tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where Read More
Angus King to Cast Pivotal ‘No’ Vote on Keystone Pipeline
The Maine senator confirms that he will vote against the project that a Louisiana Democrat considers crucial to saving her career. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Maine Sen. Angus King said he plans to cast a pivotal vote against a Keystone XL pipeline bill on Tuesday, potentially scuttling supporters’ efforts Read More
Plan to Pipe Tar Sands Oil Near Maine Border Sparks Environmental Concerns
By Tom Porter MPBN News Story TORONTO – Environmental groups in Maine are speaking out against Canadian energy giant TransCanada, the company behind the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada today submitted formal applications to build the largest, most expensive pipeline in North America. Although it would not cross into U.S. territory, some in Maine say Read More
