{
"type": "rich",
"version": "1.0",
"provider_name": "Action Network",
"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
"html": "",
"author_name": "Megan-Cotter 2024",
"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/megan-cotter-2022",
"title": "Support for bill H7531 ",
"thumbnail_url": "https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg",
"description": "Bill Removes Solar Incentives From Developing Forests Rhode Island House Bill H 7531 makes 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. If adopted, this legislation would be a huge improvement of Rhode Island’s current renewable energy siting programs that are encouraging the clearing of thousands of acres of forest and wildlife habitat. 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 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 General Assembly recognized, in the RI Forest Conservation Act, 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… . RI can meet our renewable energy goals without sacrificing our forests A 2020 study entitled Solar Siting Opportunities for Rhode Island analyzed developed and disturbed sites including: rooftop, landfill, gravel pit, brownfield, commercial/industrial and carport solar. This study found there was the potential on these developed/disturbed sites to site solar that could eliminate as much as 70 percent of Rhode Island’s total, current greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, offshore wind has been determined by a 2020 study, by the Brattle Group, to be more cost effective than utility scale solar. Therefore the majority of RI’s renewable energy will likely be generated by off shore windand the remainder can be solar sited on developed and disturbed sites. Forest loss for renewable energy is working against our climate change goals. One of the unintended consequences of our renewable energy programs is the clearing of forests and natural lands for solar development. To date an estimated _____ acres of forest and natural areas have been lost to solar, with more pending. The loss of forest is negating many of the positive steps Rhode Island is taking to effectively manage climate change. It is counterproductive to have a State program that subsidizes the destruction of forests when they are desperately needed to meet our climate change goals. It’s imperative that H 7531 be adopted this year. Next year is simply too late!",
"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-for-bill-h7531"
}