LNG backers play politics
A coalition of labor leaders has long adovcated for the proposed liquid natural gas terminal in Sparrows Point that just won conditional approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and this week, they put out a pointed video aimed at Maryland's usually labor-friendly politicians who have been fighting this project every step of the way. The video opens with a shot of Rep. Elijah Cummings questioning an official from the Bureau of Labor Statistics about the nation's dismal employment situation. Cummings, whose district doesn't include the terminal, hasn't been particularly active on the issue, but the video serves as a prod to his colleagues who on the one hand talk about the poor economy but on the other oppose the project. Note also that the people quoted in the video do very little to address the safety concerns that have led to widespread local opposition to the project but instead focus entirely on economics. It will be interesting to see, going forward, if anxiety about the economy will trump anxiety about what could happen in an accident or terrorist attack.
