Eastern Shore Pipeline
Interactive Map of the Eastern Shore Pipeline
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
Virginia (possible)[1]
FromWicomico County, Maryland
Passes throughSalisbury, Maryland
Fruitland, Maryland
Princess Anne, Maryland
ToUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore
Eastern Correctional Institution
Runs alongsideU.S. Route 13
General information
TypeNatural Gas
StatusProposed
OwnerEastern Shore Natural Gas Company
ExpectedLate 2021
Technical information
Length16.5 mi (26.6 km)
Diameter10 in (254 mm)

The Eastern Shore Pipeline, part of the Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project, is a proposed fracked natural gas pipeline to be installed on the Eastern Shore of Maryland as an expansion of existing pipeline infrastructure on the Delmarva Peninsula. The project is planned for completion in late 2021.

Overview

The proposed pipeline expansion would extend further into Wicomico County and into Somerset County, passing through Salisbury, Maryland to reach the termini at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Eastern Correctional Institution.[1][2] Somerset is one of three counties in Maryland that does not have access to natural gas.[3] Maryland officials also stated that the pipeline could be expanded south into the Eastern Shore of Virginia.[1] While Maryland has banned the process of fracking statewide, the state allows pipelines carrying fracked natural gas to be built.[4] In 2018, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved $100 million in spending on fracked natural gas infrastructure.[5][6]

The proposed expansion would connect with existing pipeline in a pigging facility in downtown Salisbury owned by Sharp Energy. A 10-inch (250 mm) diameter length of piping measuring 6.8 miles (10.9 km) would then extend to a proposed Metering and Regulation Station in Eden, Maryland, running alongside U.S. Route 13. From there, a 9.7-mile (15.6 km) length of 8-inch (200 mm) diameter pipe would continue along Route 13 to Eastern Correctional Institution and a Mountaire Farms processing plant. University of Maryland Eastern Shore would be connected midway down this stretch.[7]

State approval

The pipeline has received approval in a number of areas from the state government. In December 2020, one of two wetlands licenses needed due to the fragile ecosystems traversed by the pipeline was granted unanimously by the Maryland Board of Public Works.[8][9][10]

Criticism

The pipeline has received significant pushback from local organizations due to primarily environmental concerns, including the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), Lower Shore Progressive Caucus, and Sierra Club.[11][12][8] The fact that the proposed pipeline would run through primarily minority communities has also been cited as a reason against its construction, with a representative of the CCAN calling the pipeline "an insult and an injustice to those communities."[13]

Critics of the pipeline state that it will encourage fracking outside of the state and is dangerous to both humans and the environment.[14] Environmentalists see the pipeline as a step in the wrong direction, investing in infrastructure that is not as clean as it could or should be. The pipeline's lifetime is also of concern among critics, as it may interfere with Maryland's long-term energy cleanliness goals.[8] The Chesapeake Climate Action Network has expressed concerns that installing the pipeline may trigger a chain reaction of new pipeline construction, further damaging the environment.[15]

Support

Supporters of the pipeline's construction claim that the pipeline will bring jobs and economic growth to Somerset County and the surrounding area. Multiple state representatives, including State Senators Steve Hershey and Mary Beth Carozza, support the pipeline as a relatively clean source of energy that will bring development to the area.[16][17] Other officials, including the Somerset County Development Commission Director and Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President, support the pipeline as well.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bonessi, Dominique. "New Plans For A Natural Gas Pipeline In Maryland, Explained". NPR.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "ESNG Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project". Eastern Shore Natural Gas. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  3. ↑ Shwe, Elizabeth (30 October 2020). "Environmental Justice Advocates Sound Alarm Over Eastern Shore Pipeline". Maryland Matters. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Dance, Scott. "A year after fracking ban, Maryland Gov. Hogan's support for natural gas sparks new battle". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project" (PDF). Chesapeake Climate Action Network. March 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "ORDER NO. 88631" (PDF). 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ↑ Metts, Stephen (19 October 2020). "Del-Mar Energy Pathway & Somerset County Expansion Projects: an Environmental Justice Spatial Analysis" (PDF). Chesapeake Climate Action Network. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Condon, Christine. "Environmental groups fight proposed Eastern Shore pipeline". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Lu, Amy. "Maryland BPW Gives Initial Approval for Eastern Shore Pipeline Construction". WBOC. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  10. ↑ Butler, Brooke (2 December 2020). "Natural gas pipeline on Lower Shore granted key wetlands license". 47abc. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "Stop the Eastern Shore Pipeline Project". Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Fernandez, Camila (19 November 2020). "Eastern Shore natural gas pipeline awaits approval from Board of Public Works". 47abc. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Bernard, Diane. "MD Officials Pushed to Reject Gas Pipeline in Black Communities". Public News Service. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  14. ↑ Bernard, Diane. "Groups Fight Proposed Gas Pipeline on MD's Eastern Shore". Public News Service. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  15. ↑ "Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project" (PDF). Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  16. ↑ Hershey, Steve. "We need the Pipeline Project for the Eastern Shore economy". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  17. ↑ Carozza, Mary Beth. "Natural gas pipeline project a win for Somerset County: Mary Beth Carozza". delmarvanow. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  18. ↑ Lumpkin, Taylor (6 November 2020). "Natural gas expansion to bring jobs, opportunity to Somerset County". 47abc. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
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