Poised to pass House
By Steve Ahlquist, UpRiseRI
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| Charlestown's state rep and resident ass-hat Blake "Flip" Filippi thinks this climate bill will end American democracy. - Will Collette |
Specifically the 2021 Act on Climate (S0078A) would make the state’s climate goals, as outlined in the Resilient Rhode Island Act of 2014, more ambitious and updated with current science.
Under
the bill, Rhode Island would develop a plan to reduce all climate emissions
from transportation, buildings and heating, and electricity used economywide in
the state to 10 percent below 1990 levels this year, 45 percent below 1990
levels by 2030, 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2040 and net-zero by 2050.
The act would require the state’s Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) to update its plan for carbon reduction every five years, and include in it measures to provide for an equitable transition that addresses environmental injustices and public health inequities, as well as supports to ensure strong and fair employment as fossil-fuel industry jobs are replaced by green energy jobs.
It also adds food
security as an element to consider as the state continues to evaluate its plans
to address climate change and requires the creation of an online transparent
public dashboard to track emissions reductions and sources of energy annually.
After
2025, if the state does not meet its targets and comply with the act, the
people of Rhode Island would be able to seek action in Providence Superior Court.
The Environmental Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) had made passing the 2021 Act on Climate their sole legislative priority this year. The bill “is a long overdue update to the 2014 Resilient Rhode Island Act to address climate-warming carbon emissions,” said ECRI in a press release.
“It revises emission-reduction targets according to the latest science, improves transparency, and adds accountability to ensure that state climate goals are met over the next thirty years. And for the first time, the bill centers equity and justice in the state’s plans for reducing emissions and building climate resilience.
“The 2021 Act On Climate is the foundation for Rhode Island to
transform every sector of its economy to avoid the worst impacts of the climate
crisis. With a binding mandate to reduce emissions, environmental advocates
expect Act On Climate to dramatically accelerate climate action in the Ocean
State.
“New language in the 2021 Act On Climate bill calls for the
transition to a clean energy future to be just and equitable,” continued
ECRI. “A just and equitable transition means replacing dirty fossil-fuel
based jobs with clean energy jobs that pay prevailing wage; delivering
renewable energy at lower cost to families and businesses; and investing in
reliable transit service that connects essential workers and other working
people to economic opportunities.
“The bill calls for the inclusion of environmental justice
populations and a process for environmental justice communities to provide
input on concrete plans. The mandated plans will identify support for workers
in the transition as well as the development of programs to recruit, train, and
retain women, people of color, Indigenous people, veterans, formerly
incarcerated people, and people living with disabilities in jobs related to a
clean energy economy.“
“It’s
time to take climate action. The climate crisis is here along with the existing
racial and economic inequities and environmental injustices that have been
exacerbated by the pandemic,” added Priscilla De La Cruz,
President of the Environment Council of RI and RI Director at Green Energy Consumers Alliance.
Climate Jobs
Rhode Island,
a coalition of environmental and labor organizations, commended the Senate
passage of the 2021 Act on Climate.
“This bill is a critical step forward for Rhode Island,” said Patrick Crowley, Co-Chair of Climate Jobs Rhode Island and Secretary-Treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.
“Our state can lead the way for the rest of the country towards establishing a
just transition to a net-zero emission economy centered on racial & social
justice and the voices of the people who are most affected by
pollution—frontline workers and frontline communities. We encourage the House
of Representatives to move quickly to pass the Act on Climate and hope
Governor Daniel McKee will sign the bill on or before Earth Day
this year!”
The
Senate sponsor, Dawn Euer ((Democract, District
13, Newport, Jamestown), says the climate crisis poses too grave a threat to
the earth and to Rhode Island in particular to treat climate emissions
reduction as an aspiration rather than an obligation.
“The Ocean State is particularly vulnerable to the effects of sea rise caused by warming temperatures,” said Senator Euer.
“Communities like mine in Newport are
already inundated more regularly and severely by storm surges, and face loss of
public and private property, historic sites and businesses. Climate change
isn’t something that will happen at some nebulous future time – it is wreaking
havoc on our communities right now. As a state with so much to lose, we cannot
afford and have no excuse to be anything but totally committed to negating our
carbon emissions. This is, without question, our battle and our responsibility.
“Rhode Island has been on the leading edge of offshore wind in the United States, and is also at the forefront of other renewable generation and efficiency programs,” continued Senator Euer.
“With Washington now also shifting toward
support for the important work of adopting clean energy solutions, we have
everything we need to do our part to slam the brakes on carbon pollution while
revolutionizing our economy at the same time. Rhode Island was the birthplace
of the Industrial Revolution. We can seize this moment and become America’s
leader in the new green economy, creating plentiful green jobs that support
families and a clean environment.”
The
House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has scheduled a vote
Thursday on the House version of the 2021 Act on Climate legislation (H5445), sponsored by Representative
Lauren Carson (Democract, District 75, Newport).
When
the 2021 Act On Climate becomes law, the Environment Council of RI aims to have
a new set of top priorities to help the state achieve the binding goals established
by the bill and protect environmental justice communities. Act On Climate
begins our race to address the climate crisis; we look to Rhode Island’s
leaders and passionate residents to build policies and programs that will take
us the rest of the way.
To that end, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (Democrat, District 4, Providence) has introduced the Renewable Energy Standard Act to require 100 percent of electricity be generated from renewable energy sources.
The legislation, S0629 would provide that 100
percent of electricity sold in Rhode Island be generated from renewable sources
by 2030. It would codify a similar executive order from former Governor Gina
Raimondo in January of 2020.
Instead
of the current schedule of annual 1.5 percentage point increases in electricity
required to be generated from renewable sources through 2035, The Renewable
Energy Standard Act would increase renewable energy targets by an additional 4
percent in 2022, 9.5 percent each year from 2023 through 2029, and an
additional 10.5 percent in 2030 to achieve the 100 percent.
Meanwhile,
the Green New Deal bills introduced in both chambers and
supported by the Renew RI coalition are making
their way through the legislative process, with over a hundred people
testifying in favor of legislation that would fundamentally reshape housing and
establishing the first Green Justice Zone in the Port of Providence, to begin fighting the environmental
racism there. The bills received some pushback from conservative Senators.
Steve
Ahlquist is Uprise RI's co-founder and lead reporter. He has covered
human rights, social justice, progressive politics and environmental news for
nearly a decade.
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