After US District Court Justice Roger W. Titus ruled in favor of protection for the endangered Indiana Bat at the proposed Beech Ridge industrial wind project in West Virginia, former Maryland State Senator John Bambacus began the call for Maryland state agencies to clearly state their position on the matter of industrial wind and the Endangered Species Act.

What follows is a brief history of the excellent work of Mr. Bambacus, a resident of Frostburg, which ultimately lead to a formal request by Maryland State Delegates that the Maryland Attorney General provide an opinion on the matter of state agencies, industrial wind and endangered species.

On the day of Judge Titus’ ruling against the wind developer, Mr Bambacus emailed the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary to advise of the ruling, and its possible impact in the state of Maryland:

In mid-December, Mr. Bambacus again wrote to the Secretary John Griffin, posted here, suggesting that “In light of the fact that work on a nearby WV wind project has been halted by U.S. District Court Judge Roger W. Titus, it is respectfully requested that any and all permits pending or granted for Garrett County wind development projects not be granted or be rescinded until consideration be given to threatened and endangered species as required by the court ruling and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Incidental Takings Permit).”

Maryland DNR Secretary Griffin provided this response to Mr. Bambacus’ two inquiries:

Following Secretary Griffin’s response, Mr. Bambacus sent this email to wide distribution in Maryland government:

The result of the efforts by Mr. Bambacus is this important request from Maryland Senator George C. Edwards, and Delegates Wendell Beitzel, Kevin Kelly and LeRoy Myers, Jr. to the Maryland Attorney General, Douglas F. Gansler:

We at Allegheny Treasures applaud Mr. Bambacus for his untiring efforts to protect the Allegheny Mountains.  We also commend Senator Edwards, Delegate Beitzel, Delegate Kelly and Delegate Myers for their efforts.

Related post:  Baltimore Sun: “WV wind farm bows to bats, as issue arises in MD”