Clean Energy Program News

As the new home of RIPIRG's environmental work, Environment Rhode Island can be contacted regarding this news release.

PROVIDENCE—Climate change and global warming activists gathered at the Rhode Island State House on July 14, 2005 to call on Governor Carcieri to take 3 steps over the next month to reduce the state's contribution to global warming. The press conference was called as Governor Carcieri is preparing to Chair the next conference of the New England Governor's, a key regional body that has spurred state action on global warming throughout New England since 2001.

"We are here today to highlight three steps Governor Carcieri can take over the next month to reduce Rhode Island's contribution to global warming, including joining Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York in updating the Clean Cars Standard to reduce global warming pollution from new cars and trucks sold in Rhode Island by 30 percent," said Matt Auten, Advocate with the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG).

Last year Governor Carcieri finalized rules that brought the California Clean Cars Standard to Rhode Island to reduce air pollution and put more clean cars, like hybrids, on the road. Since then California has updated their standards to include the harmful pollutants that cause global warming.

The Governors of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts have already publicly committed to following California's lead. Updating the Clean Cars Standard would be the biggest proactive step that Rhode Island has taken to reduce global warming emissions to date, eliminating about 121,000 metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE) by 2020, according to RIPIRG.

Updating the Clean Cars Standard is projected to benefit the Rhode Island economy, because the new standards are expected to create modest fuel-savings, meaning consumers will have a little more money to spend in the local economy instead of at the gas pump.

"Updating the Clean Cars Standard will clean our air, protect public health and benefit the economy. We urge the Governor to commit to moving forward in the next month," Auten continued.

Other steps that were highlighted at the press conference included ways that Governor Carcieri could show that Rhode Island government is leading by example on climate change. "Governor Carcieri should take this month before the New England Governor's Conference to show that Rhode Island's government is leading by example when it comes to climate change," said Emily Rochon, Climate Organizer with Clean Water Action. "Executive orders requiring a fuel-efficient state fleet and greener state buildings would show Rhode Island citizens how our state's government is setting an example for reducing global warming pollution," Rochon concluded.

"Global warming is bad news for Rhode Island," said Jennifer Tuttle, Program Coordinator at the Rhode Island Sierra Club. "Rising sea levels threaten Rhode Island's coastlines, warmer water can impact fish and fisheries and we know that higher temperatures make our air pollution more dangerous. Governor Carcieri should move forward on these three steps over the next month to protect the air, water, health and economy of Rhode Island," Tuttle concluded.

In 2001, the New England Governor's agreed to a set of regional emission reduction goals to combat global warming. Since 2001, the regional agreement has propelled New England states, including Rhode Island, to the forefront of the fight against global warming. The action in New England on global warming has been particularly significant because of a complete lack of federal action on the issue.

Governor Carcieri will be the Chairman of the next Conference of the New England Governor's that is scheduled to meet on August 28th-29th in Newfoundland, Canada as part of ongoing meetings between the Conference of New England Governor's and their counterparts in Eastern Canada.