Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore City Council voted 14-1 on Monday to prohibit crude oil terminals, drawing cheers from environmentalists and dire warnings from the sole opponent on the board.
The Crude Oil Terminal Prohibition would bar new or expanded crude oil terminals throughout the city. Freight trains carrying the fossil fuel through city neighborhoods threaten 165,000 people who live in the “blast zone,” or the areas where residents live near the rails, council members said.
Councilman Eric Castello of District 11, was the only opponent. He announced, “by enacting this ban we are further damaging the ports ability to be competitive not only on the Eastern Seaboard, but in the nation and internationally.”
Several environmental activists who attended the meeting did not agree with what Costello said, but overall were happy with the outcome of the bill.
“I think that is a misguided response to the bill,” said Taylor Smith-Hams in reaction to Costello’s remarks.
“I think it sends a very clear message of the type of business that we want to be attracting to Baltimore,” Smith-Hams said. “By rejecting fossil fuel infrastructure we become an obvious hub for renewable energy.”
Council member Zeke Cohen of District One said the bill is important for the future of Baltimore.
“We need to move towards a 21st century economy,” said Cohen. “We need green jobs. We need to power ourselves with non-carbon emitting things. If we had a train explode we would have a catastrophe on our hands.”
Baltimore would be the nation’s first East Coast state to make a step in this direction, said Cohen.
“I think it sends the message that Baltimore is ready to lead, “ the councilman stressed. “This new council that came in, the 72nd City Council, is deadly serious about moving an agenda that focuses on green jobs.”
Portland and Vancouver have both passed similar measures, council members said.
The council’s first hearing of the bill lasted 2.5 hours but lasted only a little over 4 minutes at Monday’s meeting.
Supporters said the bill’s main objective is to protect public health and safety for Baltimore residents. An oil train explosion in the city could be devastating and would send dangerous chemicals into the water and air. It is a risk no environmental activist wants to have, officials said.
Jennifer Kunze, an environmental activist with Clean Water Action, has been attending rallies and meetings on the issue. Kunze said the bill will “help develop a port of the future not a port of the past.”