Our energy policies must help us conserve and find alternatives to liquid fossil fuels, reducing our dependency on dwindling supplies of natural gas and oil, while helping to clean up our air. I actively support environmental policies for Rhode Island that are consistent with the International Kyoto Protocols Treaty, which seeks to reduce pollution by greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce our dependence on diminishing supplies of increasingly expensive fossil fuels. I am working to introduce policies to promote greater energy conservation through the use of hybrid, electric and other alternative-fueled vehicles. I also want to increase our use of alternative and renewable energy sources—wind, solar, fuel cells, and tidal power. Our goal must be to move Rhode Island toward greater use of off-grid, self-contained systems for our homes and businesses.
H 7130—RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS. This act would require fuel cells be considered an energy efficient technology in renewable energy programs.
H 7140—RELATING TO EDUCATION - - UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND. This act would promote the capability of the University of Rhode Island in the areas of environmental and agricultural research and extension education by authorizing the appropriation of additional state funds to match annual federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, without reduction in the University’s general operating budget.
H 7163—RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AIR POLLUTION. This act would create the “Rhode Island Pollution Prevention Act of 2004” for the purpose of preventing or reducing pollution at the source, whenever feasible. This act would also create a small business technical and environmental assistance center for the purpose of development and implementation of a strategy to promote source reduction.
H 7246—RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND CARBON FUEL REDUCTION AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ACT. This act would create a new chapter in the general laws directing DEM to develop plans for fossil fuel and greenhouse gas reduction and would exempt from taxation certain alternative energy equipment.
H 8205—RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT. This act would provide that fifty dollars ($50.00) of child support paid by a noncustodial be provided to the family of children receiving cash assistance from the family independence program.
H 8398—PROCLAIMING APRIL, 2004 TO BE "EARTH MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April, 2004 to be "Earth Month" in Rhode Island and calls upon its citizens to observe this month with programs, ceremonies and activities that celebrate this remarkable and vital endeavor to save our planet.