News Release | Environment Rhode Island

Rhode Island's waterways among least toxic in U.S.; Clean Water Act loopholes could threaten progress

Rhode Island's waterways are ranked second cleanest in the nation by total volume of discharged toxics, according to a new report released today by Environment Rhode Island Research & Policy Center and co-authored by the Frontier Group. Although the report, entitled "Wasting Our Waterways", paints a grim picture for the nation overall — according to the study, 226 million pounds of toxic chemicals were discharged into 1,400 waterways across the country in 2010 — Rhode Island figures well, ranking second best only to Arizona with less than 1000 total pounds of toxic releases.

News Release | Environment Rhode Island

Ordinance introduced in Warren, R.I. would ban plastic checkout bags in town

The Warren Town Council conducted a first reading of an ordinance to ban disposable plastic checkout bags in the town. The legislation could make Warren the first municipality in Rhode Island – and among the first in New England – to reduce litter and marine debris by enacting a bag ban.

News Release | Environment Rhode Island

Legislation passed in R.I. House of Reps. would put Rhode Island on track for 50% less petroleum by 2050

The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 65 to 3 to pass a bill (H7261) to set up a Petroleum Savings & Independence Advisory Commission to study and reduce Rhode Island’s reliance on petroleum, with petroleum use reduction targets set at 30% less by 2030 and 50% by 2050. The Senate version of the bill is moving through the committee process.

News Release | Environment Rhode Island

Obama Administration to Protect Americans’ Health by Setting Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed historic new limits on carbon pollution from new power plants. Carbon pollution fuels global warming, which scientists predict will lead to more devastating floods, more deadly heat waves, and the spread of infectious diseases. There are currently no federal limits on carbon pollution from power plants, yet coal-fired power plants are the largest single source of carbon pollution in the United States. The standard proposed today will correct that for new power plants by limiting their emissions of carbon pollution.

News Release | Environment Rhode Island

Provisions in U.S. Senate bill will fund preservation

The U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive transportation and infrastructure bill, including an amendment (1822) to set aside $700 million to conservation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and to establish a National Endowment for the Oceans (NEO) which will dedicate resources to conserving and restoring oceans and coastal areas. The NEO provisions were proposed by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

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