Real Results For Rhode Island's Environment
1. Winning Major Clean Energy Reforms
Thanks to our staff and our allies’ advocacy, in 2006 the General Assembly passed a comprehensive energy reform package that mandates energy efficiency, less reliance on oil and gas, and investment in clean, renewable energy.
2. Bringing Water Polluters To Justice
In 2006 we successfully settled a federal lawsuit against a chronic polluter in South County that had routinely polluted the Pawcatuck River with toxic metals and harmful bacteria. Our settlement forced the plant to pay for violations of the Clean Water Act and install modern pollution control equipment.
3. Putting Cleaner Cars On Our Roads
New vehicles sold in Rhode Island will emit 30 percent less global warming pollution by 2016, thanks to the 2005 Clean Car standards announced by Gov. Carcieri after he received thousands of public comments from our members.
4. Preserving The Arctic Refuge
Despite the power and influence of the Bush administration and ExxonMobil, our staff and a broad-based coalition with bipartisan support have stopped Congress from opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling every time it has been proposed.
5. Preventing Summer Smog
In 2006 we joined the American Lung Association in successfully preventing a power plant in Providence from being allowed to burn oil during the summer smog season.
6. Cutting Energy Waste
In 2006 our staff played a critical role in creating Rhode Island’s first natural gas efficiency program and establishing new efficiency standards for appliances. The new laws will reduce demand for electricity and dangerous, expensive liquefied natural gas.
7. Keeping Our National Forests Pristine
We continue to stand against the Bush administration’s attempts to open unspoiled areas of our national forests to logging and drilling. A record-setting number of citizens wrote to protect these areas, and we’ve joined governors from Maine to California to preserve these forests for future generations.
8. Fighting Toxic Mercury Pollution
Our staff and allies collected and delivered a record number of public comments (over 650,000) to the EPA, opposing a Bush administration proposal to allow mercury pollution from power plants for longer than the Clean Air Act allows.
9. Protecting Our Wetlands
In 2004 Environment Rhode Island staff conducted hard-hitting research and successfully advocated increased penalties for companies and developers that violate the Fresh Water Wetlands Act.
10. Defending Our Right To Breathe Clean Air
In 2005, we led the charge in convincing Sen. Lincoln Chafee to help block the industry-backed “Clear Skies” Initiative, which would have gutted the Clean Air Act.
