The Audubon Naturalist Society, Environmental Defense and Sierra Club on Wednesday, Dec. 20 filed two lawsuits challenging the Intercounty Connector in hopes of halting construction of the controversial road. The 18.
8-mile highway, which will run from Interstate 370 in Gaithersburg to Route 1 in South Laurel, has been discussed for more than 40 years. Proponents argue the highway will relieve traffic, but opponents say the relief will be minimal and the environmental damage significant. State Del.
Barbara Frush, a Beltsville Democrat re-elected last month to another four-year term, has emerged as one of two leading candidates to become chairman of the Prince George's County House delegation. Frush, whose district includes Laurel, and Del. Marvin Holmes, a Democrat who represents the Bowie area, are both campaigning for the position.
In the most recent straw vote, neither had the 12 votes needed to win. A formal vote is not expected until after the session begins Jan. 10, but Frush said she hoped to secure the needed votes by the end of this week.
Frush was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1994. Holmes was first elected in 2002. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission announced Tuesday, Dec.
19, that it has reached a 10-year agreement to purchase wind-generated power from a wind farm to be constructed in Somerset County, Pa. The $20 million agreement will mean that eventually, one-third of the Laurel-based bi-county agency's electricity needs will be generated by wind. In a news release, WSSC officials stated that the deal is environmentally friendly and will provide long-term price stability for the agency.
The WSSC expects to begin using electricity from the wind farms in 2008, the release stated.
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