Washington County Circuit Court Judge Sets Good Precedent Concerning Citizens’ Right to Appeal but Drops the Ball on Pollution Permit for R. Paul Smith Power Plant
On April 21st, 2011, Judge W Kennedy Boone, a lower state court judge in Washington County, Maryland, rendered his decision in a case brought by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP). The case focused on Allegheny Energy’s water pollution permit related to the R. Paul Smith power plant in Williamsport, MD. Continue reading
The University of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic has been fighting to preserve Maryland’s environment on behalf of citizens for years. Most recently, the law clinic has been investigating massive factory farms that contaminate waterways. In retaliation, these factory farms, led by Perdue Chicken, are pushing the Maryland General Assembly to take away funding for the law clinic. 
Yesterday, the 2nd circuit court of appeals in New York overturned a lower court decision brought by 8 states against 5 of the largest electricity providers in the country. The court said that greenhouse gases, like traditional air pollutants, can be considered under common law as a “nuisance”. The decision provides yet another “feather” in the proverbial legal “cap” of progressive states and environmental advocates to address CO2 emissions from the biggest climate change offenders via the courts. Way to go 2nd circuit! 
CCAN is fighting dirty power plants on BOTH sides of the Potomac River! On June 26 2009, CCAN joined three Maryland citizens in a lawsuit challenging the Mirant Corporation’s Chalk Point power plant on the Patuxent River in Prince George’s County for