Citing Maine’s ‘home rule authority’ to protect public health, the small city took on Big Oil, which lined up behind a company challenging its tar sands ban. By Sabrina Shankman Inside Climate News news story A federal judge has ruled that the coastal city of South Portland, Maine, did not violate the U.S. Constitution when 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.
June Trial Set for Lawsuit Over South Portland’s “Clear Skies” Law
by Juliette Laaka The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The lawsuit challenging the city’s Clear Skies Ordinance is scheduled to go to trial June 18 in U.S. District Court. The City Council transferred more than half a million dollars to the ordinance defense fund Tuesday in anticipation of the trial, and approved zoning changes Read More
Environmental Group Seeks Private Donations to Help South Portland Fight Pipeline Lawsuit
By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The group posts a video requesting donations as the city’s legal costs head toward $1 million in the ‘Clear Skies’ ordinance case. SOUTH PORTLAND — A local environmental group has ramped up efforts to help the city defend its so-called Clear Skies ordinance in federal Read More
NRCM Weighs In On Obama Rejection of Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine NRCM news release Today, President Obama announced that he has rejected the request from a Canadian company to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which would have transported tars sands oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. “Today’s announcement by President Read More
South Portland Seeks Dismissal of Suit Challenging Ban on Oil Loading in Harbor
It argues that Portland Pipe Line can’t claim damages when it says it has no plans to move tar sands crude from Canada to the city’s waterfront. By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The city has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by the Portland Pipe Read More
South Portland Hires Boston Law Firm to Defend Clear Skies Ordinance
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
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
TransCanada Seeks Permit to Build North America’s Longest Tar Sands Oil Pipeline
Maine groups react in strong opposition News Release Portland/Augusta Maine – Today international energy giant TransCanada applied for permits to build its Energy East pipeline to carry tar sands oil from Alberta to Quebec and New Brunswick. Leading conservation groups in Maine denounced the plan. If approved, the pipeline would be the largest in North Read More
South Portland Girds for Legal Battle, Praised for Precedent on Its Tar Sands Ban
Conservation groups and other areas celebrate the city’s stand against the heavy crude, as opponents map out strategies for overturning the new regulation. By Leslie Bridgers, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story South Portland officials are preparing for a legal battle with members of the oil industry over a City Council vote Monday to Read More
