Natural gas pipeline a win for Somerset County residents
Bringing natural gas to Somerset County is a win-win-win on all fronts — a cheaper, cleaner fuel advancing local economic development and job growth.
As Somerset County’s sole representative in the Maryland Senate, I have made it a top priority to work with local residents, businesses, and area elected officials to bring natural gas to Somerset County, which is one of only three counties in Maryland without natural gas.
The recent Zoom meeting held by the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Chesapeake Utilities underscored the need to keep this project moving forward, which will benefit not only Somerset County but the entire Delmarva region.
Delivering natural gas to Somerset County is both a cleaner and more costeffective source of energy than current sources. This natural gas would replace the current 30-year-old co-generation plant at Eastern Correctional Institution and the fuel — oil and propane system at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Conversion to natural gas would reduce CO2 emissions at ECI and UMES by 65 and 35 percent, respectively. Cost-savings would be significant as the State of Maryland has spent approximately $10 million to maintain the boiler and co-generation facility.
There are outside special interest groups that are opposing the Somerset County natural gas project and saying that Somerset County has not considered alternative energy. They are wrong.
The facts are that Somerset County has explored and implemented multiple alternative energy projects over the years, including wind, solar, and waste-to-energy projects. However, Somerset County has also been pursuing the delivery of natural gas for over two decades and now is poised to move forward with the natural gas extension from Wicomico to Somerset counties.
Some of the projects that will benefit immediately from bringing natural gas to Somerset County include Mountaire Farms, Northrop Grumman and the Princess Anne Industrial Park. There have been countless projects that Somerset County has lost to other jurisdictions, which have access to natural gas.
The extension will also support the development of an anaerobic digestion facility that will produce renewable natural gas (RNG) while simultaneously addressing the issue of nutrient runoff from poultry waste. This locally-sourced RNG is the equivalent of natural gas and can be delivered to end-use customers via the same infrastructure.
In addition to the significant environmental benefits related to the gas project, natural gas is a less-expensive fuel source than those currently serving ECI and UMES.
I find it troubling that many of those opposing Somerset County’s efforts to bring in natural gas are outside groups trying to deny Somerset County residents the option of cheaper, cleaner fuel. Somerset County has a right to economic justice that should not be denied by special interest groups.
This project replaces dirtier, existing fuels with natural gas that will have an immediate impact on reducing emissions in one of the most economically-challenged counties in the state.
I will continue to work with our local community in bringing natural gas to Somerset County, benefiting the Delmarva region and deserving of our support.