Compiled by TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News
staff
The Rhode Island primary is scheduled for Sept. 12, and 11 candidates are running for governor, including incumbent Gina Raimondo. Three Democrats, three Republicans, three independents, a Compassion Party candidate, and a Moderate Party member are on the ballot.
ecoRI News sent each
candidate a 10-question primary preview focused on environmental issues related
to Rhode Island. Only three candidates, those with campaign photos included,
took the time to respond.
Here is a look at Rhode
Island's gubernatorial primary (candidates listed in alphabetical order):
DEMOCRATS
Brown is the only
challenger with specific environmental objectives, such as 100 percent
renewable energy by 2035 and a wind-energy dividend program.
What do you consider the
top environmental issue facing Rhode Island? In the short term, new fossil-fuel infrastructure threatens
the lives and health of Rhode Islanders and the environment across the state,
from South Providence to Burrillville. We must oppose any new fossil-fuel
infrastructure to protect our people and our environment. In the long term,
climate change, matched only by nuclear weapons, is the biggest existential
threat faced by our species, and that includes every single person in Rhode Island.
Rising sea levels are a direct threat to our state's extensive coastline, our
people, and our ecological health.
What is your position on
the proposed Burrillville power plant? I have strongly publicly opposed the Invenergy corporation’s
proposed Clear River Energy Center, which would be one of the largest
fracked-gas plants in New England and would result the loss of more than 100
acres of forest in northwestern Rhode Island. ISO New England, our regional
grid operator, has determined there was no foreseeable need for the plant’s
power. The plant would pump hazardous toxins and more than 3.6 million tons of
carbon dioxide into the air a year, making it impossible to meet the state’s
already conservative carbon reduction goals, and the plant would probably
operate for 30 years or more, locking Rhode Island into the polluting, monopoly
energy economy of the 19th century for at least another generation.
What is your position on the proposed natural gas liquefaction facility at the Port of Providence? I am staunchly opposed to the proposed liquified natural gas (LNG) plant for South Providence, a low-income neighborhood where residents already experience some of the highest rates of asthma in the state. We shouldn't be investing in any new fossil-fuel infrastructure, and in the case of the LNG facility, there is significant element of environmental racism and classism. The LNG plant in South Providence would only further harm those communities.
Do you believe in
anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change? This isn't a question of belief; it is scientific fact. Our
use of fossil hydrocarbons is warming the atmosphere and already causing
significant changes to the climate, leading to more extreme weather events that
threaten people in every part of the world, including here at home.
Do you agree with the
assessment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that under
the worst-case scenario sea-level rise in Rhode Island could reach between 9
feet and 11.5 feet by 2100? Yes,
that estimation sounds reasonable. Rising temperatures and Arctic ice melt is
going to cause significant sea-level rise. That amount, if the worst-case
scenario occurs, will be devastating to our state. I fully support financing to
help the state and municipalities prepare for this future and believe both the
state and communities should create comprehensive climate adaptation plans.
What role should your
office play in addressing climate-change adaptation and mitigation? My administration will lead the
development and execution of a statewide plan to ban all new fossil-fuel
infrastructure and become the first state in the country to build a fully local
renewable energy system — with enough surplus energy to export — by 2035. This
is what the science says we need, and it’s also the biggest economic
opportunity we’ve had in generations. Under my plan, Rhode Islanders would have
a financial stake in our natural resources and receive dividend checks every
year from offshore wind profits, just as residents of Alaska do with oil.
Would you support a
state or regional carbon tax? We would assess the possible role of carbon pricing in the
context of a broader plan that will fundamentally change the context of how we
rapidly reduce carbon emissions. Under my plan, by 2035 we will be powered by
100 percent renewable energy and there will be a ban on new fossil-fuel
infrastructure of any kind. We will create an entirely new paradigm regarding
carbon emissions for the state, which is exactly what the science tells us we
need.
Do you support a
statewide ban on plastic checkout bags or other bans on plastics? I do. We have to be careful to do this the
right way, so that grocery costs don't go up for working Rhode Islanders. But
it's entirely feasible to do that, and the effect of banning plastic bags (and
straws) could be profound in protecting the natural beauty and ecological
health of our state, our ocean, and our people.
What is your stance on
the use of open space for building new wind- and solar-energy projects? Rhode Island needs a comprehensive plan for
where to situate renewable-energy projects. We’ll conduct a review of areas in
the state with the greatest solar potential and change the incentives for local
renewable-energy development by prioritizing the state’s rooftops, landfills,
parking lots, and polluted industrial sites over our forests and green spaces.
Do you support
smart-growth development? Absolutely. Urban
sprawl is an incredibly important issue of environmental health, and investing
in methods to curb that phenomenon should be front and center in statewide
planning and development.
Offices held: House of Representatives 1973-1980 and 2011-2014
Website: http://www.spencerdickinson.com
Dickinson received a “B”
in the 2014 legislative report card by the Environmental Council of Rhode
Island.
What do you consider the
top environmental issue facing Rhode Island? It has to be the Burrillville power plant. It’s the Koch
brothers choking off the access of wind power. The Burrillville power plant is
a battleground.
What is your position on
the proposed Burrillville power plant? If I’m elected governor there will be no power plant in
Burrillville. It will effectively thwart the growth of wind energy.
What is your position on
the proposed natural gas liquefaction facility at the Port of Providence? I agree with the residential neighbors. It
shouldn't be there. We need to rethink energy, actually. The bridge fuel is
existing fossil-fuel power plants that run a few days a month. We
need to liberate the funding from these fossil projects and not finance
natural-gas infrastructure.
Do you believe in
anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change? Yes. I can see it. I can see it on sea walls, on
maps, and science sees it. We've got trouble.
Do you agree with the
assessment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that
under the worst-case scenario sea-level rise in Rhode Island could reach
between 9 feet and 11.5 feet by 2100?That’s absolutely possible. All those numbers are credible. We
can’t know for sure, but you have to act on the worst-case scenario.
What role should your
office play in addressing climate-change adaptation and mitigation? Maybe we haven't had the public discussion about
adaptation and mitigation. This isn't an issue people tell me. Maybe we need
some sort of public discourse. The key thing is to get the public to focus on
what the problem is. We need to advance public discourse to understand what's
going on. Solar farms are a priority. Would it really hurt that much to put put
a solar farm wherever it can go? It’s like saying don’t build a shipyard in New
London during Work War II. Deepwater Wind can be a leader just like the
automakers. You’re telling me Detroit can make Fords, Chryslers, and Chevys and
we can’t make wind towers. We need a World War II shipyard mentally.
Would you support a
state or regional carbon tax? There’s a lot of strong reasoning behind it. I almost feel
like it’s painting a target on yourself. It’s divisive and we may not want to
go through that. It’s an issue that is disputable and can be confused. You have
to get the people and the Legislature with you. There are some wars that should
be fought another day. I think wind developer Mark DePasquale can do more by
putting up a wind tower.
Do you support a
statewide ban on plastic checkout bags or other bans on plastics? Sure. I think people can accept that. I
don't think it will put-off a bunch of people. We can buy a canvas bag. It’s
long overdue.
What is your stance on
the use of open space for building new wind- and solar-energy projects? You need to do that if you are taking the
problem seriously. The need to win the war overrides the need to protect
certain properties. We’ll do them all. Twenty years later the woods are back.
Let’s have our priorities. It could be a dead planet.
Do you support
smart-growth development? I
think we’ll be better as a state if we follow those concepts. How we put it
into law is another question. There has to be a discussion and advocacy made
first. I’m not sure we are ready for a law. But we should have the
conversation.
Offices held: Governor 2015-present; state treasurer 2011-2015
Website: https://ginaraimondo.com
Raimondo didn't return
our candidate profile. ecoRI News completed some of the answers based on her
record.
Top environmental issue
facing Rhode Island: Climate change is
listed on Raimondo’s website under the “Energy and Environment” tab. Her
solution is a dramatic expansion of offshore wind and land-based solar. She
supports the Paris Agreement but hasn't proposed enforceable reductions in
greenhouse-gas emissions.
Position on the proposed
Burrillville power plant: Raimondo supported the nearly 1,000-megawatt natural
gas/diesel-fueled project when it was announced in 2015. She has since modified
her position to letting the application approval process play out.
Position on the proposed
natural gas liquefaction facility at the Port of Providence: Raimondo hasn't taken a public position on the
facility. As part of regional governor agreements, she supports the expansion
of fossil-fuel pipelines and infrastructure.
Climate change is
primarily caused by human activity: Yes.
Assessment by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that under the worst-case
scenario sea-level rise in Rhode Island could reach between 9 feet and 11.5
feet by 2100: Raimondo hasn't disputed
this estimate. She generally supports the positions adopted by the Coastal
Resources Management Council (CRMC), which supports NOAA’s estimates.
Role in addressing
climate-change adaptation and mitigation: Raimondo supports the state Executive Climate
Change Coordination Council and policies set by the CRMC. Neither, however, has
set enforceable goals for adaptation or mitigation.
State or regional carbon
tax: Raimondo is noncommittal
on a carbon tax and bills that establish them. She suggests favoring a model
similar to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but hasn't proposed one.
Statewide ban on plastic
retail bags or other bans on plastics: During her four years in office, Raimondo has yet to endorse any
of the bills that call for a ban on plastic checkout bags, Styrofoam, or other
single-use plastics. In July, Raimondo signed the “Tackling Plastics” executive
order that calls for non-regulatory programs, potential legislation and/or
regulations, and other measures to eliminate plastic pollution.
The use of open space
for building new wind- and solar-energy projects: Raimondo hasn't taken a position on this
relatively new debate impacting rural and semi-rural communities. She supports
a process for creating new siting rules led by the Office of Energy
Resources.
Smart-growth
development: Raimondo generally
supports smart growth but like most politicians she hasn't advocated for them
through legislation since the RhodeMap RI debate.
REPUBLICANS
Feroce’s campaign didn't
respond to our questions.
Fung’s campaign didn't
return the questionnaire. ecoRI News compiled some of Fung’s remarks and
environmental record on key issues.
As a candidate for
governor in 2014, Fung told The Block Island Times that
would try to stop the Deepwater Wind wind facility.
Fung said in a 2014
Rhode Island Public Radio debate that he supports the Executive Climate Change
Coordinating Council. He also mentioned support for open space protection,
farms, and waterways.
As mayor, Fung supported
the city’s acquisition of flood-prone homes in Cranston. The homes were torn
down to allow the land to remain undeveloped.
He supports importing
Canadian hydropower, and supports the development of large-scale solar
facilities on open space.
PATRICIA MORGANOffice held: House of Representatives 2010-present
Website: https://www.patriciaforri.com
Morgan’s campaign didn't
respond to our questions. Some information in the public record addresses a few
environmental issues.
Morgan supports the
expansion of pipelines and natural-gas infrastructure. In 2017, she sent a
letter to President Trump asking him to complete local pipeline projects, as
well as the Keystone XL project.
On climate change,
Morgan told ecoRI News last year that, “Climate change is happening, but human
beings are smart and we’ll figure it out. Mastodons in Rhode Island couldn’t
adapt and died. Humans can adapt.”
Morgan received an “F”
in the latest Environmental Council of Rhode Island biannual legislative report
card.
INDEPENDENTS
McLaughlin’s campaign
didn't respond to our questions.
Munoz’s campaign didn't
respond to our questions.
JOSEPH TRILLOOffices held: House of Representatives 2001-2015
Website: http://www.trilloforgovernor.com
Trillo received an “F”
in the latest Environmental Council of Rhode Island biannual legislative report
card.
What do you consider the
top environmental issue facing Rhode Island? Narragansett Bay needs to be cleaned up more.
What is your position on
the proposed Burrillville power plant? Opposed.
What is your position on
the proposed natural gas liquefaction facility at the Port of Providence? I need more information.
Do you believe in
anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change? Somewhat, yes.
Do you agree with the
assessment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that
under the worst-case scenario sea-level rise in Rhode Island could reach
between 9 feet and 11.5 feet by 2100? Somewhat.
What role should your
office play in addressing climate-change adaptation and mitigation? Encourage stricter laws on what is emitted into
the atmosphere for manufacturing, power plants, and other polluters.
Would you support a
state or regional carbon tax? No.
Do you support a
statewide ban on plastic checkout bags or other bans on plastics? Yes.
What is your stance on
the use of open space for building new wind- and solar-energy projects? I’m in favor of, depending on the site.
Do you support
smart-growth development? Yes.
COMPASSION PARTY
Armstrong’s campaign
didn't respond to our questions.
MODERATE PARTY
BILL GILBERT
BILL GILBERT
Offices held: None
Twitter: https://twitter.com/moderatepartyri?lang=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/moderatepartyri?lang=en
Gilbert’s campaign didn't respond to our questions.