Clean Energy In the News

A national environmental advocacy group has given Rhode Island high marks for its efforts in support of clean energy.

Rhode Island was one of seven states last week to be given Gold Stars by Environment America, a federation of advocacy groups from 27 states formed earlier this year. In a report called America’s Clean Energy Stars: State Actions Leading America to a New Energy Future, the group praised Rhode Island for adopting “bold policies” and adopting at least four of five cutting-edge policy initiatives examined by the report.

The other Gold Star states were California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. States were cited if they adopted renewable-energy standards, clean-cars programs, energy-efficiency programs, appliance-efficiency standards and energy-related building codes.

Matt Auten, the local advocate for the group, said in a statement, “Rhode Island is rising to our nation’s energy challenge by taking action to promote renewable energy, reduce energy consumption and put cleaner cars on the road. But while Rhode Island has been making progress toward a clean energy future, our leaders in Washington have been dragging their feet. We need Congress to change course, and they should start this year by passing a strong energy bill that saves energy, saves oil and matches the clean energy leadership of states like Rhode Island.”

Auten praised Governor Carcieri, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Attorney General Patrick Lynch and the General Assembly for their efforts.

In a related matter, more than 30 leading investors and managers of retirement funds, including state Treasurer Frank T. Caprio, have signed a letter to Congress urging passage of a national energy bill that includes strong measures for expanding clean energy and reducing oil dependence and global warming effects.

Many of the investors are members of Investor Network on Climate Risk, an alliance of U.S. and European investors focused on addressing risks and opportunities posed by climate change. The letter was signed by many of the nation’s top institutional investors, including state treasurers and comptrollers from California, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, New York City, North Carolina and Oregon.

The letter was coordinated by CERES, a coalition of business and environmental groups working for sustainability, and the Calvert Group Ltd., one of the nation’s largest socially responsible mutual fund firms.