By
TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI.org News staff
PROVIDENCE
— For the second straight year, Gov. Lincoln Chafee ignored the environment,
and climate change, in his State of the State address (pdf).
But some of his actions are speaking louder than his public speeches.
In
his proposed 2014 fiscal budget, Chafee puts money and resources toward open
space and habitat protection, environmental enforcement and renewable energy.
In particular, the change
of address for the REF would streamline Rhode Island's fixed-pricing renewable
energy program, which promotes large wind, solar, hydro and anaerobic energy
projects. The $6.5 million REF also recently announced new incentives to
promote small-scale residential and business solar energy projects.
"We
view the move of the REF back to the OER as an opportunity to more efficiently
provide financial and technical energy assistance to the Rhode Island
community. It also will help us coordinate various energy programs —
renewables, efficiency, alternative fuels and energy security — and more
effectively leverage different funding sources," Gold said.
Open space.
The state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) would get $14 million
for open space protection; nearly $24 million for grants to municipalities to
buy land for recreational activities, plus $43 million in municipal bond
proceeds to develop and rehabilitate local recreational areas.
To
protect farmland from commercial and residential development, the governor
allocates $18.5 million to buy farm conservation rights.
State agencies. The DEM also would get $5 million for expanding bike paths,
greenways and off-road facilities. An additional $1.5 million is proposed for
the Blackstone Valley bike path, and $6 million is set aside for grants for
historic walking trails, gazebos and picnic tables.
The
governor proposes two new environmental police officers, two dispatchers and
deputy chief of forestry for the DEM. DEM’s director, Janet Coit, has pushed
for the added enforcement positions, which have been vacant for some time.
The
proposed 2014 budget also includes $100,000, plus matching private funds, for
the local seafood and agriculture marketing initiative.
The
Bureau of Natural Resources receives a proposed $1.7 for wildlife habitat
development. Rocky Point gets $2.5 million for renovation of the 78-acre site —
$10 million was spent last year to buy the property. The Arcadia Management
Area would receive $1.8 million as part of a $3.3 million project for a new
visitors center and office building. An additional $1.1 million is marked for
recreational facilities.
Funds
are also set aside for fish passage restoration, salt marsh restoration and dam
improvements. Along the southern coastline, $9.2 million is tabbed for ongoing
coastal restoration projects, such as eelgrass seeding, and dredging breachways
and ponds.
The
Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) would get additional federal funds
for river ecosystem restoration ($607,014) and Narragansett Bay habitat
restoration ($145,976). Overall, the proposed CRMC budget is relatively
unchanged at $5.2 million with 29 full-time employees.
On
Jan. 8, Chafee gave his support for comprehensive sustainable development cross
Rhode Island. As part of an update to the state plan, the Division of Planning
is revamping and updating statewide strategies for energy, transportation,
housing, economic development and land use. Updates for energy and waste are
already underway.
The
Land Use 2025 project, however, is expected to create a framework for the other
plan updates. The new land-use project promotes concentrated economic
development, open space and farmland protection, while also preserving existing
historic and cultural infrastructure. The three-year land-use plan and public
outreach is in the first year. Watch a video here.
The
state budget for fiscal 2014 must be completed by July 1. Between January and
June 30, House and Senate committees review the budget and hold public
hearings. A final budget is approved by the General Assembly before the
governor signs the bill.