Environment Council of Rhode Island

Global Warming

GO BIG, Little Rhody! ECRI supports a mandatory program that will achieve the pollution reductions scientists say we need to avert the worst impacts of global warming. We support legislation that will reduce global warming pollution in Rhode Island 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Global warming puts our environment and health at risk through impacts ranging from increased beach erosion and rising temperatures in Narragansett Bay, to more frequent and intense hurricanes, and an increase in the rates of asthma and variety of insect-borne illnesses.

Protecting Our Waters & Water Supply

Support the Rhode Island Shared Water Resources Act. (S2637, H7787) Rhode Island’s water is shared by all of us. Rhode Island’s drinking water, tourism, economic development, fisheries and much of our recreation depends on the state’s clean flowing rivers and streams. The state needs to do proper planning and management so that the region’s ample rainfall will continue to provide adequate water for Rhode Island’s needs in the future. The Shared Water Resources Act will protect our natural resources and ensure enough flexibility to accommodate future growth.

Support the Clean Water Bond. RI communities need financial resources to invest in the maintenance and upgrading of their wastewater treatment facilities, to stem pollution from runoff and stormwater, and to provide support for residents who must replace failing septic systems or tie in to local sewer lines. Placement of an $85 million bond issue for the RI Clean Water Finance Agency on the 2008 ballot is crucial for leveraging the federal and private funding required to meet these needs.

Maintain RI Habitat Restoration Funding. Sustained funding for the State’s Habitat Restoration Fund will insure that the great progress in restoring RI salt marshes and eelgrass beds and in building the fish ladders started in recent years continues. Every dollar of State investment has been matched by seven dollars in federal or private matching funds and seventeen RI communities have benefited directly from these projects.

Clean Energy

Promote Local Clean Energy Projects. (S2594, H7806) and (S2852, H7809) Small-scale renewable energy and combined heat and power are clean, efficient and reduce the need for electrical transmission upgrades. Customers with excess generation produced on site should enjoy the full benefits of net-metering and be able to credit their excess generation to other community users, such as municipal buildings and affordable housing developments. Caps should be lifted for net metering and standby rates should be eliminated to allow more local clean energy projects to move forward.

Support Long-Term Contracts for Renewable Energy Projects. (S2849, H7916) ECRI supports a requirement for National Grid to procure at least 5% of their load through long-term contracts for renewable energy.

Fund the Affordable Energy Plan. The Comprehensive Energy Act earmarked $15 million to implement a plan that would fund an energy efficiency program for oil-heated buildings, and provide energy assistance for low-income Rhode Islanders, among other things. But it was not funded at all in last year’s budget. We call on the state to fully fund this program, particularly in this difficult year of soaring oil prices.

Solid Waste

Support the Electronic Waste Producer Responsibility Act. (S2631, H7880) ECRI supports legislation to require manufacturers to pay for collecting and safely recycling discarded electronic equipment. Computers and other discarded electronic equipment contain lead, mercury, and other toxins that can damage kidneys, nervous and reproductive systems in addition to disrupting hormones and harming developing fetuses.

Support the Incinerator Ban Act. (S2796, H7742) Incinerating trash to produce energy is illegal in RI — and with good reason. Incineration produces the particulate matter that leads to asthma and lung disease, carbon monoxide, mercury, and other toxins. Gasification, pyrolysis and plasma disposal technologies heat garbage or plastics to high temperatures, creating gas, solid, and liquid residues. The gases are combusted, releasing hazardous pollutants. Despite claims to the contrary, these technologies considered “incineration” are not “emissions free”.

Reduce waste created by plastic bags. Plastic bags require petroleum to produce, consume energy to manufacture, create litter, choke marine life and add to landfill waste. ECRI supports legislation that would ban plastic bags (H7444), or discourage their use by mandating a refund for customers who bring reusable bags (H7159, S2565), or by taxing them (H7630).

Support the bottle bill. (S2771) ECRI supports beverage container deposit recycling to reduce litter and increase our recycling rate.

Clean Transportation

Support the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. (S2633, H7524) ECRI supports legislation to protect Rhode Islanders from diesel pollution, which leads to global warming and other harmful environmental impacts, as well as adverse health risks. The average lifetime cancer risk from diesel soot for Providence County residents is 330 times higher than the acceptable risk level determined by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This year’s legislation calls for the cleanup of trash trucks, which travel through residential neighborhoods, increasing families’ exposure to diesel soot while they are home and their children are at play. And since state vehicles pose an immediate health risk, government should lead by example and ensure those vehicles are also cleaned up.

Encourage public transit. The Act to Advance Bus Rapid Transit (H7264) will speed up bus trips by authorizing RIPTA buses to extend green lights at intersections and by requiring motorists to yield to RIPTA buses as they re-enter lanes from bus stops. The State Employee Commuter Act (S2881, H7377) will allow state workers to opt out of free parking from the State in lieu of alternative modes of transportation. The U-Pass Act (S2158, H7857) will require public colleges to join RIPTA’s U-pass program, which allows students’ college IDs to serve as bus passes.

Finance public transit. The State must meet the growing demand for public transit by financing RIPTA’s operating budget. RIPTA will need an extra $3.5 million in 2008. This investment keeps Rhode Island dollars at home by creating new Rhode Island jobs and reducing our imports of gasoline from oil-producing regions of the world. It will also meet the needs of a growing ridership.

Preserve Open Spaces

Support an Open Space Bond. At least $15 million in new bond funding is needed so that state land protection programs can continue beyond 2008. Rhode Island’s open space programs protect our state’s working farms, create or expand state parks and management areas and protect locally important natural areas from development. State open space bond funding is a catalyst: every state dollar is matched by three dollars in federal funding, foundation grants and private donations. Bond funding for land conservation is a prudent capital investment because it appreciates in value over time, reduces future state and municipal costs for infrastructure and services, and keeps farms and farmers in business.

Support Adverse Possession Bill. (S2027, H7082) This bill will provide the same rights for non-profit land trusts as
afforded government to relieve the burden of checking parcel/lot lines to assure that no neighbor is encroaching and after 10 years being able to claim the encroached upon land by “adverse possession.”

Support Burying Waterfront Transmission Wires. (S2441, H7618) ECRI supports burying power lines at the head of the bay in Providence and East Providence to enhance existing and potential public spaces.

Toxic-Free Communities

Raise Fines for Polluters to $25,000 Per Day. (S2841, H8090) Rhode Island is having trouble forcing big polluters to obey the law, because the fines they face for abandoning toxic waste are too low. This gives polluters an incentive to dodge responsibility and drag out the legal process, leaving toxic hazards in our environment. ECRI supports legislation to raise maximum fines for big polluters from $1,000 to $25,000 per day, so that Rhode Island can make polluters obey the law and clean up our state.

Protect children from toxic products. (H7812) ECRI supports legislation that prohibits the use of toxins in child care articles and toys. This bill would require the least toxic alternative.

Other Priorities

Support adequate funding for environmental agencies. An ECRI priority is to ensure that the DEM is properly reviewing and processing permit applications, adequately funded and staffed to enable the effective enforcement of environmental regulations, and planning for, managing, and protecting our public lands.  ECRI also seeks adequate funding for the Statewide Planning Program to effectively update key state guide plan elements and to oversee the development and implementation of local comprehensive plans.


Include Environmental Representation on Board and Commissions. As Boards and Commissions are created or restructured due to separation of powers, ECRI seeks appropriate qualified environmental representation and expertise on such key agencies as Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, Coastal Resources Management Council, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Narragansett Bay Commission, Renewable Energy Development Fund, Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council and the Water Resources Board.