What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Apply for the John H. Chafee Conservation Leadership Award ~ Due by February 16, 2011

The Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) Education Fund is honored to announce the opening of the application period for the John H. Chafee Conservation Leadership Awards for 2011.  Honoring the memory of the late Governor and US Senator for his dedication to preserving the environment, The ECRI Ed Fund honors 4 Rhode Island organizations each year for their work in improving the health of the Rhode Island environment.

Recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges based on applications received from RI businesses, non profits, municipalities, and educational institutions that highlight specific projects and programs related to conservation.  Past winners include businesses that eliminated polluting discharges, recycling programs, renewable energy projects, sewage treatment facility upgrades, land conservation, and projects providing hands on environmental education for Rhode Island children. This list is not meant to be an all inclusive list. All projects that improve the health of the RI environment are encouraged to apply.

Dismantling Monoculture ~ October 17, 2010

This Sunday afternoon, October 17th, the Fertile Underground Communal Garden are hosting their second annual fall harvest party.  We hope you will join for a number of fun activities:  a Community Art project to paint many of our raised beds throughout the garden, Interactive tours of the new Greenhouse, demonstrating experimental techniques, made entirely of recycled materials, live music from "Gerry's Pot Luck", and a presentation from the Beehive Collective, an artist group from Machias, Maine who will be delivering their picture-lecture "Dismantling Monoculture."  Featuring huge murals, the Bees offer a visual tour of the connections between Colonization, Militarism, and Resource Extraction in the Americas.  Their presentation will be centered at 4 PM.  Feel free to come to the garden any time after noon.  After 6 PM, there will be a Potluck, and you are requested to bring a drink or beverages to join us for the latter part of the evening, with more music and a roaring fire.  Also, this event is a chance to lighten your load by bringing items you would like to offer at the "Free Market" which will be happening all day.  There are no price tags! 

The Fertile Underground Communal Garden is located on Pearl Street, between Pine and Broad.  We hope to see you there!"
 
  Info:  401-PURE-858.

Green Building Tours throughout RI ~ October 2, 2010

Several green buildings will be open for touring in Rhode Island as part of NESEA’s Green Buildings Open House – many designed to the USGBC’s LEED™ standard and others that feature high efficiency, net zero energy systems.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) of RI and NESEA are partnering to bring the Green Building Open House to RI.  This event will give Rhodies a unique opportunity to tour over a dozen green buildings and renewable energy projects across our state.  Just to name a few:

• A Gold LEED BioTech Center at URI
• A wind turbine in Narragansett
• Jamestown’s Environmental  Packaging, Inc eco‐friendly facility.

The complete list of sites in RI is searchable by building type and energy type. You can also reset the state field and see the list of sites in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other northeastern states.
 

Candidates for Governor to Debate “What’s Next For Rhode Island’s Environment?” ~ September 28, 2010

September 28 event at Providence College will give Rhode Islanders the chance to hear candidates discuss the state’s most pressing environmental issues

 
The Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) will host a gubernatorial candidates debate on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. in ’64 Hall in the Slavin Center at Providence College. The event titled “What’s Next For Rhode Island’s Environment?” will be free and open to the public, but seating is limited so registration will be required by calling (401) 621-8048, e-mailing [email protected] or registering at the ECRI website at www.environmentcouncilri.org.

Sustainable Urbanism: A European Perspective ~ September 25, 2010

Meet RI's Green Cos & Orgs at NESEA Annual Meeting, THIS Saturday
 
You’ve probably heard that the NESEA Annual Meeting will include a presentation by one of Europe’s leading sustainable urban thinkers, Joachim Eble, a tour of the new $85M Providence Technical & Training Academy building, a mentoring table manned by NESEA luminaries, and a post-event party at JJ’s award-winning Wolcott Building.
 
But you might not have seen the stellar list of companies and organizations that will be exhibiting.  These are the entities that are reimagining and creating a more sustainable RI, America and world. 

RI Gubernatorial Debate on Environment ~ September 28, 2010

There are so many debates this year and that's a good thing. There's a lot to talk about, and themed debates are especially revealing. For those of us who are concerned about the state's environment, note that "What's Next for Rhode Island's Environment?" is the topic of a debate at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 28, 2010, at Providence College.

The debate is free, but space is limited, so please register by calling 401-621-8048 or email [email protected]. 

Thanks to the Environment Council of RI and the Providence College Political Science Department and Board of Programmers for sponsoring this important event.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ~ May 6, 2010

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Rise of the House  (about 4pm or 4:30pm)

House Lounge

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

House Resolution No. 7996
BY Ruggiero, Handy, Rice M, Ehrhardt, Ferri
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION KNOWN AS THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TASK FORCE {LC2304}
04/08/2010 Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
05/06/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

House Bill No. 7997
BY Rice A, Walsh, Handy, Segal, Ucci
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL {LC2336} (would provide for the use of motor vehicle brake friction material which does not contain copper or its compounds)
04/08/2010 Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
05/06/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

House Bill No. 7998
BY Rice A, Walsh, Handy, Segal, Ucci
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP {LC2347}
04/08/2010 Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
05/06/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

House Bill No. 7065
BY Rice M, Naughton, Handy, Ferri, Marcello
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - CLEAN ENERGY BIOFUELS {LC131} (would establish new requirements for and otherwise promote the use of cleaner biofuels within the state. The act would establish a study commission to investigate the use and promotion of such fuels within the state)
01/12/2010 Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
01/20/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
01/20/2010 Committee postponed at request of sponsor
02/04/2010 Scheduled for hearing
02/04/2010 Committee postponed at request of sponsor
04/01/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/01/2010 Meeting postponed
04/08/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/08/2010 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
05/06/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

House Bill No. 7407
BY Rice A, Walsh, Handy, Gallison, Malik
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- GREEN ECONOMY ROUNDTABLE {LC1126} ( would create the Green Economy Roundtable charged with identifying various opportunities associated with the green economy)
02/09/2010 Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
03/04/2010 Scheduled for hearing
03/04/2010 Committee heard and continued
05/06/2010 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

Richard Welch
Committee Clerk
222-2672

POSTED:   FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010, 12:36 PM

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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ~ April 8, 2010

Lots of bills on the agenda for April 8. These bills were to have been considered on April 1, but that hearing was canceled. Topics include:

• Clean Energy Biofuels
• Ultra-low Sulfur and Biodiesel Heating Oil
• Green-Jobs-Green RI Program
• Green Buildings & Job Creation Act
• Waters and Navigation - Water Pollution
• Small Wind Energy Systems
• Regulating purchase of Renewable Energy
• Air Pollution - Wood Stoves without EPA certification in densely populated areas
• Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling
• Hazardous Waste Cleanup
• DEM, Health etc. Agencies work re MOA on Farm Issues
• Incineration of Waste
• Ban of Pesticide Avitrol
• Repeal Requiring City & Town Plans to Conform with State Guide Plan for Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds
• Eliminate State Mandated Point Source Discharge Fees for Municipal Sewage Treatment Plants
  

Didn't list quite everything, especially a couple at the end that are vague, but may be important. Read on for details, watch what goes on in the legislature, and support sensible environmental legislation.

-- ed.

Last LEED Workshop ~ November 23, 2009

From US Green Building Council RI Chapter:

LAST LEED WORKSHOP OF 2009

USGBC - RI Hosted Events

LEED Core Concepts & Strategies Workshop   LAST CALL!! Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 For anyone pursuing the non-technical Green Associate or the more advanced LEED AP+ credential, this course is a must! Take advantage of the last USGBC faculty-led class in the Northeast for 2009.

Providence Green Drinks ~ November 19, 2009

Providence Green Drinks is Nov 19, 5pm to 8pm at Napa Valley Grille, 111 Providence Place.

Jim Gibson and Bill Horn from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney are hosting Green Drinks on Thursday, November 19th at the Napa Valley Grille in the Providence Place Mall. Napa Valley Grille emphasizes using local produce and food producers in the Rhode Island market. This will provide a great opportunity to meet the new Executive Chef, Erik Wicklund, who has just moved to Providence from the Chicago area. Come enjoy free appetizers and some fine libations.
 
Jim Gibson and Bill Horn are financial advisors who can appreciate that investment opportunities can be consistent with your personal values.  They help identify "green" investments that are designed to meet not only your performance standards, but your standards of environmental and social responsibility as well.  They are located in the Providence office of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in the CitizensPlaza building. Learn more at their website.