RI Bill Aims to Cut Global Warming Pollution 8% by 2050: Landmark Legislation to Receive Hearing April 1

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Colin Durrant, CLF Director of Communications
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Providence, RI (March 31, 2008) – A landmark global warming bill that seeks to dramatically cut global warming pollution in Rhode Island will receive a key legislative hearing Tuesday April 1. The Rhode Island Global Warming Solutions Act (H. 7884) seeks to cut major greenhouse gas pollutants, like carbon dioxide, 80% by 2050 in part through setting mandatory emissions caps and requiring investments in clean energy solutions.

The bill is winning praise from some of the state’s major environmental groups, including the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Environment Rhode Island, Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter. The lead sponsors are Senator V. Susan Sosnowski and Representative Arthur Handy.

“This emissions reduction bill is the kind of bold, decisive action we need our government to take in order to avert the impacts of climate change,” said Cynthia Giles, Director of CLF’s RI Advocacy Center. “Stabilizing and then reducing greenhouse gas emissions must become our collective goal.”

Scientific evidence shows that the impacts of global warming will be a major issue for the Ocean State, including warmer temperatures in Narragansett Bay that affect fish populations and rising sea levels along the state’s coastline. Some of the climate change solutions that scientists and key studies point to include large investments in renewable energy like wind and solar, energy efficiency measures to reduce electricity demand, increased fuel efficiency for cars and trucks and incentives to decrease miles traveled, and combined heat-and-power technology that allows business and industry to create heat and electricity at the same time.

“Voluntary measures and piecemeal reforms are not enough to achieve the pollution reductions scientists say we need to fight global warming,” said Matt Auten of Environment Rhode Island. “If Rhode Island wants to get serious about tackling global warming and protecting our beaches and coastline rising sea levels then we need to “GO BIG” and adopt global warming solutions that are as big as the global warming problem.”

The global warming bill also sets up an emissions reduction program to be self funded by a fee charged to global warming polluters, and is expected to generate economic investment and new jobs as a new clean energy business sector emerges. It also calls for the state to play a leadership role in reducing global warming pollution by setting guidelines and benchmarks for state agencies.

“It would be unwise not to move in this direction. If we can be one of the states to take the lead on this, RI will have the opportunity to protect our environment, save money on energy and fuel costs, and jumpstart our economy with new green industries,” said Denise Parrillo, Campaign Organizer from Clean Water Action.

“The energy choices of the past are threatening Narragansett Bay and the coastlines that are so important to the quality of life in the Ocean State,” said Chris Wilhite, Director of the Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter. “By cutting global warming pollution 80% by 2050, that’s a doable 2% per year, we can prevent the worst consequences of global warming and generate thousands of green-collar jobs in Rhode Island.”

Witnesses expected to testify at the hearing include:

Matt Auten, Environment Rhode Island
Dr. Melanie Fitzpatrick, Union of Concerned Scientists
Cynthia Giles, Conservation Law Foundation
Annie Johnson, President, GreenHarmony LLC
Don Mallinson, Rhode Island Interfaith Power and Light
Prof. John Merrill, Center for Atmospheric Chemistry Studies, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Denise Parrillo, Clean Water Action
Rhode Island Student Climate Coalition
Mark Therrien, Assistant General Manager, RIPTA
John Torgan, Narragansett Bay Keeper, Save The Bay
Chris Wilhite, Sierra Club
Seth Yurdin, Providence City Council

In November 2007, the groups who formed the Rhode Island Climate Coalition kicked off the “GO BIG, little rhody” campaign with a rally at Roger Williams Park Zoo in support of local, state and federal action to reduce global warming emissions 80% by 2050. Speakers at the rally included Congressman Jim Langevin and Providence Mayor David Ciciline. The entire Rhode Island Congressional delegation has backed federal legislation mandating an 80% cut in global warming pollution by 2050. In February the City of Providence and the Town of Warren both passed resolutions backing the goals of the “GO BIG little rhody” campaign.

Four other states – California, Hawaii, New Jersey and Washington – have enacted enforceable global warming emissions reduction laws, similar to that being proposed in the Rhode Island bill. Similar legislation is also being debated in the neighboring states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The Global Warming Solutions Act will receive a hearing before the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Tuesday April 1 at the rise (about 4:15 pm) in Room 135 of the State House.

The companion bill in the Senate is S. 2629.

To view a copy of the Global Warming Solutions Act visit: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText08/HouseText08/H7884.pdf.

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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.