Environment Rhode Island’s Clean Energy & Air Agenda
Rhode Islanders strongly support a clean and safe environment, but Rhode Island decision-makers don’t always promote strong policies to foster the use of more clean energy and less air pollution. Too often special interest dominate the debate and either prevent good policies from moving forward, or promote bad policies that take time, attention and resources away from our proactive environmental agenda.
Global warming is a growing threat to Rhode Island’s coastline, public health and wildlife. Rhode Island established a state-based climate action plan in 2001 that called for a 10% reduction in global warming pollution by 2020. Although Rhode Island has adopted policies that are projected to stop global warming pollution levels from increasing, the state is not yet on track to decrease pollution levels. In addition, Rhode Island has thus far refused to join other Northeastern states in a regional program to cap and reduce global warming pollution from power plants.
Another major environmental problem in Rhode Island is air quality. The entire state of Rhode Island fails to meet minimum federal air quality standards. As a result public health is suffering. Over 1 in 10 Rhode Islanders have asthma and the cancer risk from diesel pollution in Providence County is 300 times higher than accepted risk levels. Personal cars, big diesel engines and power plants all contribute to Rhode Island’s air pollution problems.
Clean Energy & Air Associate Job Description
With Rhode Island’s political composition and a supportive general public, the “Ocean State” has the opportunity to become a national leader on environmental policy. Therefore Environment Rhode Island’s program and strategies are based around winning concrete reforms that will make a real difference for Rhode Island’s environment and have the potential to set a national precedent.
Environment Rhode Island’s Clean Energy & Air Associate will work to convince Rhode Island to join the rest of the Northeast in capping and reducing global warming pollution from power plants. In addition, the Associate will work to build support for win a policy victory that will reduce diesel pollution 75% by 2015. On a day to day basis, Environment Rhode Island’s Clean Energy & Air Associate will play the following roles: issue expert, political strategist, researcher, lobbyist, media contact, recruiter and fundraiser.
Recent college graduates earn $23,750 in their first year and $24,250 in their second year. In addition, full-time staff can opt into our state health care coverage, are eligible for paid sick and vacation days, and can apply for our college loan assistance program. Staff accrue two weeks of vacation by the end of their first year and three weeks by the end of their second year. Staff are also eligible to join a 401(k) savings program in their second year.
For more information please e-mail Matt Auten or call at (401) 421-6535.