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Environmentalists Protest "Dirty Fuel"

Sierra Club, Maine Chapter

A group of environmental advocates formed a human chain across Higgins Beach in Scarborough Saturday,  in support of sustainable energy. Hands Across the Sands was part of a synchronized demonstration with other environmental groups across the Mid and Southern Atlantic, to protest expanded oil development. 
"This year in Maine, it's particularly relevant, " said Glen Brand, Executive Director of Sierra Club's Maine Chapter, one of several groups that organized the event. "Governor LePage has recently come out in favor of opening up the Gulf of Maine to oil drilling."

Governor LePagerecently joined the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition, an alliance of governors who support expanded oil exploration, which they say could help meet the country's need for more affordable energy.
That, says Brand, has his group and others worried over the potential for future environmental disaster along the Northeastern coast, as well as over continued development of an ultimately unsustainable resource, especially at a time when alternative energy is starting to gain some political traction.

“Chasing away offshore wind and going after offshore drilling is about as nonsensical as it gets.” said Taryn Hallweaver of Environment Maine.

The Hands Across the Sands event was organized by Surfrider Foundation, Environment Maine, Sierra Club, and 350 Maine.