RHODE ISLAND
With record high fuel and energy prices, Rhode Island residents are facing economic hard times. Dependence on fossil fuels is also leading to increased global warming. The prospect of climate change’s devastating effects demand that we act urgently to halt the current course of warming in order to avoid unprecedented economic, environmental, and health crises. But, by combating global warming, we can also invest in a secure economic future. With a strong investment over ten years, the US economy will see 3.3 million new jobs. (i)
Each day we fail to address global warming, its cost to our economy, our environment, and our health continues to grow. The sea level rise associated with the present trend of global warming would devastate Rhode Island’s costal communities, which are centers of population and commerce. (ii)
At the root of both of these problems—a slowing economy and a warming planet—is our dependence on fossil fuels. Today Rhode Island depends on natural gas to generate over 99% of its energy. (iii)
By investing in cutting edge renewable energy technology, we can get jobs right here in Rhode Island while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
Currently, Rhode Island has the potential to generate more than a quarter of the energy it needs from clean, renewable sources! (iv)
In recent years, however, Rhode Island has taken steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. As a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Rhode Island has agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10% below 2005 levels by 2019. (v)
While important progress is being made, we must take aggressive action to combat global warming. We need strong leadership to make this happen.
SOURCES:
i. http://www.apolloalliance.org/downloads/resources_ApolloReport_022404_122748.pdf
ii. http://www.nextgenerationearth.org/usstates/statelist/
iii. http://getenergyactive.org/fuel/state.htm
iv. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/Plugging_In_Renewable_Energy.pdf