"Save Passamaquoddy Bay" 99% there!
Donation protected
For all the "Davids" out there battling corporate "Goliaths" to save sacred and treasured places, this victory story is for you.
Our goal is to raise $20,000 before December 31, 2016 to pay off legal and other loan obligations that helped make this victory possible. And today, the Charles G. Wright Endowment for Humanity, Inc. announced that it would match the first $10,000 that we raise! What an incredible encouragement for all of us to make the most of our gift!
Here is the rest of the inspiring story:
On August 17, 2016 an extraordinary email showed up in my box from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (aka FERC). The subject line announced:
"Order dismissing dockets and terminating proceedings re Downeast Liquefaction, LLC et al under PF14-19 et all.”
I paused and reread it several times, and immediately picked up the phone to Bob Godfrey, the "Downeast David” heroically fighting the "Downeast LNG Goliath” since 2004.
“Bob - have you looked at your email?”
“No - what’s up?”
“Bob - I think you need to see if the latest FERC message is what I think it is. I want to make sure I am reading it correctly.”
“I’ll call you right back.”
Less than a minute passes and the phone rings.
“Sarah?”
“Yes”
“You're right. It’s dismissed! Wow!”
“OMG. I can’t believe it! Call Linda. OMG!"
< gleeful laughter as the phone call ends >
Since 2004, Save Passamaquoddy Bay (SPB) has fought, and finally won, three battles to keep liquefied natural gas export and import facilities from being built on the beautiful St. Croix River and the exquisite Passamaquoddy Bay in Maine. As you can imagine, having the threat of even one proposed LNG terminal in this area was daunting. Having three LNG terminal proposals - all at the same time - presented what some would have seen as an impossible mission:
· Quoddy Bay LNG of Oklahoma, proposed a terminal on sacred land within the Passamaquoddy Tribal Community in 2004.
· Downeast LNG of Maryland proposed a terminal at a designated scenic cove with significant geological features, next to a historically sacred place in 2005.
· Calais LNG of Texas, proposed a terminal next to Devil's Head State Conservation Site, near the 1604 St. Croix Island Historic Park in 2007.
Between 2004 and 2016, Save Passamaquoddy Bay steadfastly fought these three proposals, standing up against 30 large legal and consulting firms who collectively spent over $90,000,000 attempting to get their sites approved. SPB raised and spent nearly $360,000 -- a huge financial effort, plus thousands of volunteer hours.
2008 - SPB defeats Quoddy Bay LNG on October 17
2012 - SPB defeats Calais LNG on April 4
The last battle, against Downeast LNG, took 12 years and the outcome was illusive and uncertain all along the way.
On August 17th, 2016 SPB prevailed and the last LNG threat against our community ended…wow!
The reason this is the outcome is because Robert and Linda Godfrey served as SPB's champions, and contributed thousands of hours and helped leverage limited resources from key supporters to make sure the battle could continue at critical phases. Without their leadership and the financial resources of other key supporters at critical times, this outcome would not have been possible. On all of our behalf, they took personal responsibility for making sure SPB had what it needed to keep the battle alive with FERC and DE-LNG.
Today, Save Passamaquoddy Bay is celebrating!
Bob and Linda are ready to move on to document this extraordinary David and Goliath story at a time in our country’s history when the “Goliath” stories are all too prevalent, and inspiration is needed to continue other critical battles to protect our environment and treasured places that we love and hold sacred.
This winter, Bob and Linda will work with the extensive SPB archives from the past dozen years, and will author a book and workbook tentatively titled: Being David:
How a Small Community Stood Up to Three Goliath Developers -- and Won!
As in any extraordinary initiative of this size, there are financial obligations that need to be eliminated to be completely finished - hence the 99%!
As you think about this beautiful place - whether you live here or have been a visitor to this amazing part of the world - please consider how much is it worth to you to have the threat of LNG on the St. Croix River and Passamaquoddy Bay eliminated. And then make a financial contribution to close the last chapter of this historic battle.
Our goal is to raise $20,000 before December 31, 2016 to pay off legal and other loan obligations that helped make this victory possible. And today, the Charles G. Wright Endowment for Humanity, Inc. announced that it would match the first $10,000 that we raise! What an incredible encouragement for all of us to make the most of our gift!
I think, together, we can do this because our hearts are inspired by what has been accomplished and our gratitude is deep for those who championed the cause for so many years.
We look forward to your financial support. Thank you.
And thank you for all the ways you are the “David’s” in your own communities protecting the places that you treasure and hold sacred from the "Goliaths" that would have it otherwise.
Sarah + Paul Strickland, Robbinston, Maine
Save Passamaquoddy Bay ambassadors
Our goal is to raise $20,000 before December 31, 2016 to pay off legal and other loan obligations that helped make this victory possible. And today, the Charles G. Wright Endowment for Humanity, Inc. announced that it would match the first $10,000 that we raise! What an incredible encouragement for all of us to make the most of our gift!
Here is the rest of the inspiring story:
On August 17, 2016 an extraordinary email showed up in my box from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (aka FERC). The subject line announced:
"Order dismissing dockets and terminating proceedings re Downeast Liquefaction, LLC et al under PF14-19 et all.”
I paused and reread it several times, and immediately picked up the phone to Bob Godfrey, the "Downeast David” heroically fighting the "Downeast LNG Goliath” since 2004.
“Bob - have you looked at your email?”
“No - what’s up?”
“Bob - I think you need to see if the latest FERC message is what I think it is. I want to make sure I am reading it correctly.”
“I’ll call you right back.”
Less than a minute passes and the phone rings.
“Sarah?”
“Yes”
“You're right. It’s dismissed! Wow!”
“OMG. I can’t believe it! Call Linda. OMG!"
< gleeful laughter as the phone call ends >
Since 2004, Save Passamaquoddy Bay (SPB) has fought, and finally won, three battles to keep liquefied natural gas export and import facilities from being built on the beautiful St. Croix River and the exquisite Passamaquoddy Bay in Maine. As you can imagine, having the threat of even one proposed LNG terminal in this area was daunting. Having three LNG terminal proposals - all at the same time - presented what some would have seen as an impossible mission:
· Quoddy Bay LNG of Oklahoma, proposed a terminal on sacred land within the Passamaquoddy Tribal Community in 2004.
· Downeast LNG of Maryland proposed a terminal at a designated scenic cove with significant geological features, next to a historically sacred place in 2005.
· Calais LNG of Texas, proposed a terminal next to Devil's Head State Conservation Site, near the 1604 St. Croix Island Historic Park in 2007.
Between 2004 and 2016, Save Passamaquoddy Bay steadfastly fought these three proposals, standing up against 30 large legal and consulting firms who collectively spent over $90,000,000 attempting to get their sites approved. SPB raised and spent nearly $360,000 -- a huge financial effort, plus thousands of volunteer hours.
2008 - SPB defeats Quoddy Bay LNG on October 17
2012 - SPB defeats Calais LNG on April 4
The last battle, against Downeast LNG, took 12 years and the outcome was illusive and uncertain all along the way.
On August 17th, 2016 SPB prevailed and the last LNG threat against our community ended…wow!
The reason this is the outcome is because Robert and Linda Godfrey served as SPB's champions, and contributed thousands of hours and helped leverage limited resources from key supporters to make sure the battle could continue at critical phases. Without their leadership and the financial resources of other key supporters at critical times, this outcome would not have been possible. On all of our behalf, they took personal responsibility for making sure SPB had what it needed to keep the battle alive with FERC and DE-LNG.
Today, Save Passamaquoddy Bay is celebrating!
Bob and Linda are ready to move on to document this extraordinary David and Goliath story at a time in our country’s history when the “Goliath” stories are all too prevalent, and inspiration is needed to continue other critical battles to protect our environment and treasured places that we love and hold sacred.
This winter, Bob and Linda will work with the extensive SPB archives from the past dozen years, and will author a book and workbook tentatively titled: Being David:
How a Small Community Stood Up to Three Goliath Developers -- and Won!
As in any extraordinary initiative of this size, there are financial obligations that need to be eliminated to be completely finished - hence the 99%!
As you think about this beautiful place - whether you live here or have been a visitor to this amazing part of the world - please consider how much is it worth to you to have the threat of LNG on the St. Croix River and Passamaquoddy Bay eliminated. And then make a financial contribution to close the last chapter of this historic battle.
Our goal is to raise $20,000 before December 31, 2016 to pay off legal and other loan obligations that helped make this victory possible. And today, the Charles G. Wright Endowment for Humanity, Inc. announced that it would match the first $10,000 that we raise! What an incredible encouragement for all of us to make the most of our gift!
I think, together, we can do this because our hearts are inspired by what has been accomplished and our gratitude is deep for those who championed the cause for so many years.
We look forward to your financial support. Thank you.
And thank you for all the ways you are the “David’s” in your own communities protecting the places that you treasure and hold sacred from the "Goliaths" that would have it otherwise.
Sarah + Paul Strickland, Robbinston, Maine
Save Passamaquoddy Bay ambassadors
Organizer
Sarah Strickland
Organizer
Robbinston, ME
