Marylanders should be outraged that Exelon’s federal license to operate the Conowingo Dam has been renewed and that the state has waived its regulatory leverage over the dam (“New 50-year Conowingo Dam license gets federal OK, but environmental groups worry it won’t do enough to stop pollution overflows,” March 26). A better deal would have made sure that Exelon pays its fair share to clean the pollution of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay.
The Hogan administration has long acknowledged that Exelon’s operations of the Conowingo Dam caused significant harm to Maryland’s natural resources and water quality. In 2018, it issued a certification that would have required Exelon to reduce six million pounds of nitrogen and 260,000 pounds of phosphorus every year at an estimated annual cost of $172 million for 50 years. Claiming that his hands were tied, Gov. Larry Hogan settled on an agreement that allows Exelon to pay less than 1% of that amount.
While Governor Hogan has made frequent promises to hold Exelon accountable for its pollution, he and his administration have given Exelon what amounts to a major 50-year giveaway. We rely on healthy waterways for our blue crabs and oysters, the water we drink and the beautiful waterways that make us want to live here. Under this new 50-year federal license, taxpayers like you and me are left to pick up the costs a major corporation should be paying. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can reconsider the license and should do so.
Ed Hatcher, Rock Hall
Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.