Join the Critical Fight to Divert Solar Projects from Forests

Rhode Island needs forests, natural areas and renewable energy to fight climate change.

Sixty-nine percent of all forest loss in RI is from solar development, according to DEM. It’s counterproductive to have a State program paid for by rate payers, that is encouraging the loss of forest, when it’s absolutely necessary to meet our climate change goals.

Thanks to the leadership of Representative June Speakman, Rhode Island House Bill H 7531 would make our state’s most important forests and wildlife habitat, ineligible for incentives to develop renewable energy. It also defines preferred sites, (landfills, gravel pits, brownfields, carports, and all rooftops) where renewable energy should be focused. Moreover, it provides the authority to establish disincentives to discourage renewable energy development in non-preferred sites. If adopted, this legislation would be a huge improvement in Rhode Island’s current renewable energy siting programs, which are behind MA and CT in using effective strategies to prevent forest loss.

To be successful in the fight against climate change, RI must achieve two broad objectives simultaneously. First, RI needs to eliminate carbon emissions ASAP. The second objective, which is just as important as the first, is to absorb and store the massive amounts of carbon that have already been released to the atmosphere. Renewable energy addresses the first objective but, unlike forests, can’t absorb or store carbon.

The US Climate Alliance has determined that as the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, it is essential that we safeguard and enhance the capacity of forests and natural lands to absorb and store carbon. The 2021 RI Forest Conservation Act established State policy, that forest land has many important values, including, but not limited to: clean air, clean water, economic importance, climate change mitigation, habitat, and supporting human health and well-being. Forest land should be maintained to meet Rhode Island's aggressive climate change goals… .

Contrary to some conventional wisdom, the good news is that RI can meet our renewable energy goals without sacrificing our forests

As much as 70 percent of Rhode Island’s total, current greenhouse gas emissions can be eliminated by solar sited on developed and disturbed sites including: rooftop, landfill, gravel pit, brownfield, commercial/industrial and carport solar. Moreover, offshore wind has been determined to be more cost effective than land based utility scale solar. Therefore, the majority of RI’s renewable energy will likely be generated by off shore wind and the remainder can be solar sited on developed and disturbed sites or from out of State sources.

For all these reasons, it is imperative that H 7531 be adopted this year. Next year is simply too late!