A fresh start, but only a beginning

Renewable power, global warming cap are next

President Obama has begun to chart a new course on energy and the environment. Yet, as he would readily acknowledge, the toughest obstacles lie ahead.

In January, members of Environment Rhode Island’s federal staff, Margie Alt, Anna Aurilio and Ivan Frishberg, applauded the president in the East Room of the White House as he directed his administration to take steps that will help states, including Rhode Island, put more hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars on our roads, reducing our carbon footprint and our dependence on oil.

In February, our federal staff were also in attendance as the president signed the economic recovery bill, which included an $80 billion down payment on clean energy that will create 1.5 million green jobs nation wide, including thousands in Rhode Island.

“We’re thrilled the president has acted so boldly and swiftly,” said John Rumpler, Environment Rhode Island’s senior environmental attorney. “But there’s a mountain of work left to do, and he’s going to need all the help he can get.”

Obstacles to progress

Energy companies have proposed to build new carbon-spewing, coal-fired power plants across the United States. In response, Environment Rhode Island is pushing for alternative plans, ones that would expand energy efficiency, wind and solar.
The president has set a goal of 25 percent renewable electricity by 2025 and has proposed a cap on carbon pollution—both of which we support as keys to unleashing the power of clean energy to transform our economy.

Despite the pro-environment majority in Congress, approval of either measure is far from assured—especially in the Senate, where special interests and the president’s adversaries need only 41 votes to snarl progress in endless debate and delay. “That’s why we’re organizing support for clean energy across the state,” said Rumpler.

Meanwhile, we’re also working for energy efficient building codes, increased investment in solar power, funding for our state parks and greater protections for our coasts.