By Doug Gablinske
Rhode Island consistently ranks as one of the most energy-expensive states in the country. At over 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, the Ocean State’s electricity rates are among the highest in the lower 48 states.
Yet, instead of investing in cleaner and more efficient energy infrastructure, previously elected officials in the state instead decided to pursue dubious climate action lawsuits against the very energy companies the state needs to keep its lights on and economy moving. As a lifelong Rhode Islander who cares about our environment and our state’s energy future, my frustrations with the climate action lawsuits remain. They are ultimately counterproductive to the goal of achieving lower greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner air.
Ornithologist Jameson Chace and his students at Salve Regina University walk the Cliff Walk in Newport every other week from December through March to count the ducks they see in the water. They often count large numbers of scoters, eiders, scaup, buffleheads and goldeneyes, but their numbers vary significantly from year to year.
The same phenomenon occurs throughout Narragansett Bay: Large numbers of ducks are observed some years and many fewer during other years. No one seems to know why.
âBecause birds move around a lot, we canât really say much about trends, but there have been years when Iâve seen rafts of scoters in massive numbers and many years when thereâs not,â said Chace, a professor of biology at Salve Regina and president of the Wilson Ornithological Society.
State Blocks Release of Public Records
A GoLocal request for copies of the communications between the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) regarding the removal of contaminated soil a the 6/10 RI DOT project is being blocked by state attorneys.
GoLocal unveiled in September that contaminated material was dumped in an Olneyville neighborhood adjacent to homes and businesses and that material was spread throughout neighborhoods as part of the project a project that is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
For months RIDOT, Director Peter Alviti denied the material was contaminated and has refused to answer repeated questions.
Retaining wall being built at the home of Barletta Supervisor s daughter s home
GoLocal has tracked the transportation of concrete retaining wall blocks from the 6/10 construction site in Providence to the home of the daughter of Barletta Engineering’s supervisor in Weymouth, MA for the family s private use.
The contract to Barletta and its partners was awarded by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Twice this week, massive concrete retaining blocks were loaded onto a trailer in Providence and then trucked to the home of Barletta’s Dennis Ferreira’s daughter’s home in Weymouth. Identical types of blocks are being installed at the taxpayer supported 6/10 project.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
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