…..The rumors are true that Tenaska can lease the property under Tomlinson Run State Park for carbon capture sequestration wells. That wasn’t the case until less than six months ago. On April 20, 2025 Governor Patrick Morrisey signed SB 627 into law. That legislation now makes our State Park and homeowners around it vulnerable to the dangers of carbon capture sequestration. People always think the way to get a controversial bill passed is with lots of hoopla and people speaking in favor of it. Not always so. Allow me to use an oft used description: fat possums travel late at night. I think SB 627 was a fat possum tucking a volatile threat to our state parks under its belly and garnering no attention.
……..This bill moved very quietly. It didn’t catch the attention of any reporters in Charleston or in the area. I check bills daily during the session, but I missed it. The sponsors include no local senators: Jeffries, Clements, Hilton , Rose and Tabuca. Even worse, the Senator who represents the 1st District, Ryan Weld was a YES vote when the bill came to a floor vote. The other Senator representing our District, Laura Wakim Chapman, was one of only three senators to cast a NO vote.
……When the bill reached the House of Delegates for a vote, 1st District Delegate and Majority Leader Pat McGeehan voted against the bill. Right down the road in District 2 Delegate Mark Zatezalo was a YES vote.
……..Just because a bill is passed doesn’t mean it’s language can’t be obliterated in the next session and that should be our plan. Opponents of the bill should be in contact with Del. McGeehan and Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman to request they sponsor a bill repealing the language in 627 in the upcoming session. I would also be looking real hard for a candidate to oppose Sen. Ryan Weld who voted to allow the leasing of the property under Tomlinson. I think the Tomlinson State Park Foundation would be a good choice to lead the charge.
…….Right now there are only 2 applications filed with the DEP for carbon-capture well in Hancock County and while we hear they are in the vicinity of the State Park, I have yet to get a return call from the DEP’s communication chief. Monday, I’ll be filing a Freedom of Information Request Application with the DEP to obtain that information. I want to say to those public servants who fail to return the media’s phone calls or e-mails “You ultimately work for us, the taxpayers and your refusal to return our calls is a blatant refusal to do that job.”
…….What can we do to stop the DEP from permitting the two Tenaska plants in Northern Hancock County? We need to start making noise. A meeting with those experts knowledgeable about the impact of those wells in our area needs to be held where we live: In the Legion, VFW or JDRockefeller IV Career Center. Then we need to mobilize. If enough residents express their opposition, the DEP will take notice. I envision a petition drive with signatures of registered voters expressing our opposition to the Carbon-Capture Sequestration wells delivered to the Legislature on day one of the session.
……..This is our land. Taxpayers own Tomlinson Run and we need to take control of the situation to protect our health, safety and property values. And, we need to do it quickly.
