Cleaning up Narragansett Bay
Less pollution will enter our lakes, rivers and Narragansett Bay thanks to legislation we worked to pass in 2007. The law requires developers to use environmentally friendly measures for new construction to reduce runoff pollution.
Reducing global warming pollution
Rhode Island’s power plants, the second-largest source of global warming pollution in the state, will reduce their emissions 10% by 2019 under a regional effort we helped convince state officials to join.
Protecting land on Watchaug Pond
When we learned in 2007 about a plan by the state to sell off land on Watchaug Pond that was originally intended to be a part of Burlingame State Park, we worked with our allies to expose the bad deal in the media and put pressure on officials to stop the sale.
Winning major clean energy reforms
Thanks to our staff’s advocacy, the General Assembly passed an energy reform package in 2006 that mandates energy efficiency and decreases reliance on oil and gas.
Putting cleaner cars on the road
Starting in 2011, new cars and trucks sold in Rhode Island will emit one-third less carbon pollution and get better gas-mileage. That’s because of the Clean Car standards we helped to establish in Rhode Island.
Saving Rhode Island’s beaches
Wastewater discharges into Newport Harbor and Easton’s Bay have contaminated water and closed beaches. In 2008, we took the matter to court to protect the health of beachgoers and our coastal waters.
Preventing summer smog
In 2006, we joined with the American Lung Association to stop a power plant in Providence from being permitted to burn oil during the summer smog season.
Taking illegal polluters to court
The Wood-Pawcatuck River will be less polluted thanks to our lawsuit against a chronic polluter in South County. The plant was forced to pay for violating the Clean Water Act, and had to install modern pollution control equipment.
Protecting our drinking water
Our drinking water is safer thanks to our work in 2005 to win a ban on the sale of gasoline infused with MTBE, a harmful chemical that can easily pollute groundwater.
Bringing change to Washington
In 2008, voters elected the most pro-environment president and Congress in recent memory. As part of Environment America Voter Action, we talked to more than one million voters about the environmental records of Barack Obama and the 29 congressional candidates we endorsed.
