CLF Statement on RI Senate’s Renewable Energy Legislative Package

Contact
Colin Durrant, CLF Director of Communications
617-850-1722

Boston, MA (March 6, 2008) – The Conservation Law Foundation’s Rhode Island Advocacy Center (CLF) gave its strong support today to a set of bills introduced into the Rhode Island Senate focused on renewable energy.

“This package of bills addresses the climate change emergency in a serious and constructive way,” said CLF Staff Attorney Jerry Elmer.

CLF has been especially active in encouraging introduction and passage of the bill providing for utilities such as National Grid to meet the state’s renewable energy standard by means of long-term contracts. A year ago, CLF opposed Grid’s renewable energy procurement plan before the Public Utilities Commission because Grid’s plan did not include long-term contracts. Since then, CLF has been working on a long-term contracting bill that can be supported by both environmentalists and utilities. Long-term contracts are especially important for producers of renewable energy because such contracts allow new projects to procure the start-up funding they need.

“A year ago, CLF was opposing Grid’s failure to provide for long-term contracts in its renewable energy procurement,” said CLF Staff Attorney Elmer. “We are delighted that this year we can and do join with Grid in supporting legislation that mandates such long-term contracts.”

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The Conservation Law Foundation works to solve the environmental problems that threaten the people, natural resources and communities of New England. CLF’s advocates use law, economics and science to design and implement strategies that conserve natural resources, protect public health, and promote vital communities in our region. Founded in 1966, CLF is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. It has offices in Boston, Massachusetts; Concord, New Hampshire; Providence, Rhode Island; Montpelier, Vermont; and Brunswick, Maine.