Comments on: Why Producer Responsibility Makes Sense for Rhode Island http://www.clf.org/blog/rhode-island/why-producer-responsibility-makes-sense-for-rhode-island/ For a thriving New England Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:21:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tricia Jedele http://www.clf.org/blog/rhode-island/why-producer-responsibility-makes-sense-for-rhode-island/#comment-2133 Tricia Jedele Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:06:02 +0000 http://www.clf.org/?p=8764#comment-2133 It is the State of Rhode Island’s lobbying laws, not CLF, that characterize Mr Kohorst’s testimony on the bill as lobbying. But, whether Mr. Kohorst is a registered Rhode Island lobbyist, or not, is beyond the point of the blog. The point of the blog is that despite the fact that the businesses that make up the United States electrical products industry are working to make a good product (energy efficiency light bulbs) even better, we do have energy efficient lighting out in the world that contains mercury. Products that contain mercury have to be managed to avoid impacts to public health and safety. This bill will allow the State to start a conversation with businesses about how the burdens of managing the mercury in existing energy efficient lighting might be shared between the folks who make the light bulbs and those who buy them. We look forward to working with NEMA’s members, and its Senior Managers, for that matter, to find the solutions to these challenging product management issues. It is the State of Rhode Island’s lobbying laws, not CLF, that characterize Mr Kohorst’s testimony on the bill as lobbying. But, whether Mr. Kohorst is a registered Rhode Island lobbyist, or not, is beyond the point of the blog. The point of the blog is that despite the fact that the businesses that make up the United States electrical products industry are working to make a good product (energy efficiency light bulbs) even better, we do have energy efficient lighting out in the world that contains mercury. Products that contain mercury have to be managed to avoid impacts to public health and safety. This bill will allow the State to start a conversation with businesses about how the burdens of managing the mercury in existing energy efficient lighting might be shared between the folks who make the light bulbs and those who buy them. We look forward to working with NEMA’s members, and its Senior Managers, for that matter, to find the solutions to these challenging product management issues.

]]> By: mark a. kohorst http://www.clf.org/blog/rhode-island/why-producer-responsibility-makes-sense-for-rhode-island/#comment-2130 mark a. kohorst Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:31:52 +0000 http://www.clf.org/?p=8764#comment-2130 Please note the following correction to this blog post: I am the person identified by Mr. Elmer as an "out-of-state paid lobbyist." Aside from the fact I am not from Rhode Island, this characterization is incorrect. I am Senior Manager for Environment, Health & Safety at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (www.nema.org), the principal trade group for the US electrical products industry. Lighting constitutes a small portion of NEMA's product scope, which includes virtually everything involved in generating, transmitting, and distributing electrical power. I assist our member companies in all sectors on regulatory matters related to public health and the environment. I am not registered to lobby in RI and my presence at the hearing was to provide important contextual information about energy efficient lighting, much of which was unknown to the committee members. Both the Chair and Vice Chair expressed their gratitude for our remarks and for NEMA's willingness to work with RI regulatory authorities to craft workable legislation. The testimony that I and representatives of the companies (Philips and OSRAM Sylvania) presented at the hearing speaks for itself and is part of the public record. Mark A. Kohorst Senior Manager, Environment, Health & Safety NEMA Please note the following correction to this blog post: I am the person identified by Mr. Elmer as an “out-of-state paid lobbyist.” Aside from the fact I am not from Rhode Island, this characterization is incorrect. I am Senior Manager for Environment, Health & Safety at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (www.nema.org), the principal trade group for the US electrical products industry. Lighting constitutes a small portion of NEMA’s product scope, which includes virtually everything involved in generating, transmitting, and distributing electrical power. I assist our member companies in all sectors on regulatory matters related to public health and the environment. I am not registered to lobby in RI and my presence at the hearing was to provide important contextual information about energy efficient lighting, much of which was unknown to the committee members. Both the Chair and Vice Chair expressed their gratitude for our remarks and for NEMA’s willingness to work with RI regulatory authorities to craft workable legislation. The testimony that I and representatives of the companies (Philips and OSRAM Sylvania) presented at the hearing speaks for itself and is part of the public record.

Mark A. Kohorst
Senior Manager, Environment, Health & Safety
NEMA

]]> By: Tricia Jedele http://www.clf.org/blog/rhode-island/why-producer-responsibility-makes-sense-for-rhode-island/#comment-2129 Tricia Jedele Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:42:20 +0000 http://www.clf.org/?p=8764#comment-2129 Right on Jerry. Way to go! Right on Jerry. Way to go!

]]> By: Katie http://www.clf.org/blog/rhode-island/why-producer-responsibility-makes-sense-for-rhode-island/#comment-2127 Katie Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:03:07 +0000 http://www.clf.org/?p=8764#comment-2127 While I agree that this needs to be done, why isn't it being done on a Federal level? I know VT and other states have producer responsibility and each has different laws about how that is to happen. Seems very costly to manufacturers. While I agree that this needs to be done, why isn’t it being done on a Federal level? I know VT and other states have producer responsibility and each has different laws about how that is to happen. Seems very costly to manufacturers.

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