Environment Council of Rhode Island

...building an ecologically healthy future in a sustainable economy

2019 ECRI & ECRI's Education Fund Annual Meeting

NOTE: Photos and videos of the speakers follow this summary.

On June 3, 2019, the Environment Council of Rhode Island hosted its Annual Meeting at the Slatersville Congregational Church in North Smithfield. The focus of the evening was renewable energy siting, a hot-button issue for planners, developers, environmental advocates, and residents of Rhode Island in the last year. Tom Kravitz, the Town Planner for North Smithfield, kicked the evening off by leading a tour of solar and hydro projects in the town. The tour included sites near Oxford Road and Pound Hill Road in North Smithfield, and the hydro dam behind the North Smithfield Public Library in Centennial Park.

After the tour, the meeting convened for a dinner prepared by Harvest Kitchen and a speaking program introduced by newly elected ECRI President Priscilla De La Cruz. 

The first keynote speaker, Erika Niedowski of the Acadia Center, started off by emphasizing the urgency of climate change. With the rapid progression of sea level rise and extreme precipitation events, Niedowski noted, there is no time to squabble over emissions targets. She urged stakeholders to act to decarbonize the economy as quickly as possible and reviewed current legislative efforts in Rhode Island to help accomplish this goal.

Afterwards, Tom Kravitz explained the decision-making process for the siting of the renewable energy projects that were shown on the tour. He described changes in land use in North Smithfield in the last century, including his efforts to maximize the economic benefits of renewable energy to the Town and his long-term plans for the sites. The speaking program concluded with a Q&A, which reflected on how to balance stakeholder interests throughout the siting process.

The Environment Council of Rhode Island extends its gratitude to all attendees for coming and engaging with the important and complex issue of renewable energy siting.

Tom Kravitz, Town Planner for North Smithfield, led a tour of renewable energy sites in the Town.

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Kravitz, Town Planner for North Smithfield, led a tour of renewable energy sites in the Town.
Tour participants look at solar energy installation in North Smithfield. The first site, off Oxford Road and Pound Hill Road in North Smithfield, takes up about 4-5 acres of land to generate 1 MW of solar power.


Trees in the area were clear-cut to make room for the project and to provide access to maintenance workers.

 

 

 

 

 

Trees in the area were clear-cut to make room for the project and to provide access to maintenance workers.


Tour participants tour Centennial Park, home to the Slatersville Reservoir.

 

 

 

 

 

Centennial Park is home to the Slatersville Reservoir, a historic hydropower facility behind the North Smithfield Public Library.


Tom Kravitz explains the layout of another solar installation on Great Road to tour participants.

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Kravitz explained the layout of another solar installation on Great Road, which was built on a former landfill site in North Smithfield.


Tour participants visit the site of the Slatersville dam, a historic hydropower facility.

 

 

 

 

 

At the site of the Slatersville dam. Centennial Park is home to the Slatersville Reservoir, a historic hydropower facility behind the North Smithfield Public Library.


National Park Service ranger Kevin Klyberg talking about hydro-power in Slatersville.

 

 

 

 

 

National Park Service ranger Kevin Klyberg talking about hydro-power in Slatersville. He explained that Slatersville was the first planned mill village in the United States. Its proximity to the Blackstone River was crucial before steam power allowed industry to move away from waterways.


North Smithfield Town Planner Tom Kravitz speaking to the solar-siting bus tour participants.

 

 

 

 

 

North Smithfield Town Planner Tom Kravitz speaking to the solar-siting bus tour participants.


Erika Niedowski of the Acadia Center speaks to the group about legislative efforts to help RI meet its renewable energy goals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erika Niedowski of the Acadia Center reviewed legislative efforts in Rhode Island to get the state on track to meet its renewable energy goals.

All photos courtesy of Paul Roselli.


Here are the videos of speakers at 2019 Environment Council of RI annual meeting.

Erika Niedowski, Acadia Center

 

Tom Kravitz, North Smithfield Town Planner

 

Q & A

Thanks to Tim Faulkner for recording the speakers.