Rhode Island Climate Coalition

The Rhode Island Climate Coalition (RICC) is a group of 79 organizations that includes unions, businesses and community groups working to reduce global warming pollution and ensure that Rhode Island meets its goals for global warming pollution reductions.  In 2001, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopted a regional Climate Change Action Plan that has a long term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 75 to 85 percent.

Victories: 

We have recently been very successful on several fronts of our campaign:

Clean Transportation
Rhode Island has adopted the California LEV II Clean Car Standard, which is slated to begin in 2008.  Rhode Island also has adopted the LEV III amendments to the Clean Car Standards which will cut global warming pollution 30 percent in new cars by 2016.

Clean Energy
Rhode Island became the 15th state to establish a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES).  One of the most aggressive in the region, it requires that 16 percent of the state’s electricity be generated by renewable sources by 2020. 

Energy Efficiency
Furthermore, the state passed appliance efficiency standards covering 14 commonly used appliances, including exits signs, cell phone chargers and torchiere lamps. The state also passed legislation that establishes a 25% income tax credit for renewable energy systems and makes these systems sales tax-exempt at point-of-sale.

Cutting Power Plant Pollution
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a program to cut carbon dioxide emissions from electrical power plants in the northeast by 10 percent by 2019. Although Governor Carcieri withdrew his initial support from the agreement, this year he later succumbed to intense pressure from key Rhode Island Climate Coalition members to sign a bill enabling the state to move ahead with the program.  RGGI will cap global warming pollution from power plants, and force power plant owners to decrease that pollution by switching to less polluting fuels, boosting efficiency at plants, investing in renewable power, and/or increasing energy efficiency. In helping to pass legislation to adopt RGGI, our groups ensured that power plant owners are required to pay for all pollution permits and that the funds generated go towards energy efficiency programs that will further decrease global warming pollution and save consumers money.

Next Steps: Reducing global warming pollution 80 percent by the year 2050

While we have made strides in reducing carbon pollution in the transportation and electricity sectors, we need to do even more to protect our health and environment from the worst effects of global warming. In order to do that, we are calling upon Governor Carcieri to commit to reducing Rhode Island’s global warming emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. These reductions are achievable, and here’s how:

Clean Electricity
Rhode Island should further promote the use of electricity from clean, renewable sources of power like solar and wind. We should also increase energy efficiency in the state.

Clean Transportation
Rhode Island should prioritize improving public transit. An efficient mass transit system takes cars off the road, which leads to significant reductions in global warming pollution.

Government Leading by Example
Rhode Island should require state government to lead by example by using renewable sources for 20 percent of their energy needs and reducing energy use by 25 percent by 2010.

How you can help

1. Write a Letter to Governor Carcieri
Click here for a sample letter. Add a sentence about why stopping climate change is important to you. Please be sure to ask for a reply, and include your name and address.

2. Write a letter to the editor
Send a short letter to your local newspaper encouraging Governor Carcieri to take a leadership role in promoting an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

3. Get Involved with the Campaign
Contact our organizations to get more involved:

Clean Water Action, (401) 331-6972, www.cleanwateraction.org/ri, 741 Westminster Street , Providence, RI 02903

Environment Rhode Island, (401) 421-6535, www.environmentrhodeisland.org, 9 South Angell St., 2nd Flr., Providence, RI 02906

Click here to download a list of Rhode Island Climate Coalition Endorsers. (MSWord)