One of two major approvals needed in order for a multi-billion dollar project in Calvert County to move forward has been tentatively granted by a state entity. On Friday, May 30 the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) announced it was giving its conditional OK to Dominion Cove Point’s plan to build a liquefaction facility at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Lusby. The approval comes on the eve of a public meeting at Patuxent High School (PHS), which will be presided over by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“The Maryland Public Service Commission has conditionally granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to Dominion Cove Point (DCP) LNG, LP, to construct a 130 megawatt electric generating station at its existing liquefied natural gas terminal site in Lusby,” a PSC press release stated. “Grant of the CPCN is subject to significant conditions regarding public safety and environmental protection, and $48 million of investments in clean energy, energy efficiency and low-income bill assistance. The commission accepted all air and water quality permitting conditions required by state environmental agencies, as well as conditions related to traffic, noise, esthetics and forest conservation. The commission also added several new conditions. Because the generating station is being built solely to service the expanded LNG import and export facility, the order requires prior approval from the FERC for that facility. The commission found in its review that the project, as proposed, would not provide net benefits to Maryland citizens. Therefore, the Commission focused on actions that will advance and protect their environmental and economic interests. The order requires

DCP to contribute $40 million over 5 years to the State’s Strategic Energy Investment Fund for the development of renewable and clean energy resources, greenhouse gas mitigation, energy efficiency and demand response programs. To alleviate the impact on low-income customers from possible increases in gas prices resulting from natural gas exports from the facility, DCP must also contribute $8 million over 20 years to the Maryland Energy Assistance Program.”

“We are pleased to receive the CPCN order from the Maryland Public Service Commission,” Dominion Energy’s Director of Communications Jim Norvelle stated. “We wish to thank the commission members, PSC staff, Power Plant Research Project staff and others for their diligent work. We are now reviewing the order, and look forward to working with the commission to meet the conditions so the project can continue to move forward in a timely manner.”

Opponents of the project announced Friday evening they would appeal to Governor Martin O’Malley [D] and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to conduct a “human safety study” of Dominion’s proposal.

“Today the PSC expressed concern for the safety of people living closest to the proposed plant, but failed to actually protect these people,” Chesapeake Climate Action Network Dire