Providence Creates Green Revolving Fund for Municipal Projects
PROVIDENCE — In a political environment where federal officials — and even some Rhode Island officials — have proposed rolling back climate funding and resources, others are deciding it’s time to double down.
Mayor Brett Smiley announced on April 7 that city officials were creating Providence’s first green revolving fund. Starting with $3 million in seed money, it will fund municipal projects that push the city toward achieving net-zero emissions in city-owned buildings by 2040.
The fund was a joint collaboration between the mayor’s office and City Council; its passage by the council as an ordinance will be required to create the fund. City Council President Rachel Miller and Ward 3 council member Sue AnderBois are both backing the ordinance.
For city officials, time is of the essence. Since assuming power early last year, the Trump administration has been on an old-fashioned rollback spree, rescinding many of the Biden-era federal programs, incentives, rebates, and tax credits associated with renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Providence officials hope to capitalize on the remaining federal dollars available for such projects, before they expire at the end of next year. Any savings, rebates, or other financial incentives recouped by the city will go straight back into the green revolving fund, giving it a source of revenue.
Officials from Scrapyard, Providence Meet in Superior Court
PROVIDENCE — The city’s lawsuit that could change the way Rhode Island Recycled Metals does business stands still as South Providence residents grow frustrated that the company is allowed to continue operating without a municipal license.
City officials are still waiting for a Superior Court judge to determine if the Providence Board of Licenses has authority over the Allens Avenue business.
Providence’s ordinance states that any business that purchases, sells, barters, or deals in junk, old metals, or secondhand materials, or accepts the materials to melt them down or convert them into new items, is required to obtain a junk license. But Rhode Island Recycled Metals (RIRM) argues that the city’s ordinance doesn’t apply to them because it doesn’t melt material at its Allens Avenue location.
“It’s semantics, and they’re splitting hairs,” said Linda Perri, president of the Washington Park Association on Providence’s South Side.
Officials said, in court documents, that the ordinance’s language is clear — any business that deals with metal requires a license, and any business that melts metal requires a license.
Attorneys from both sides met at Rhode Island Superior Court on April 13 for a status conference, held in the judge’s chambers rather than in the courtroom.
The city did not respond to ecoRI News’ request for comment about the status of the case or what happens next. RIRM also did not respond to ecoRI News’ request for comment.
ProvPort Releases Draft of New Master Plan for Port of Providence
PROVIDENCE — After more than two years of work, ProvPort officials have released the draft of a new master plan, one that they hope will guide the city’s waterfront development over the next three decades.
ProvPort is the nonprofit organization that manages the Port of Providence, one of only two deepwater ports in all of New England.
The 223-page plan, which describes itself as primarily “aspirational,” lays out four core objectives for development located within the specified Port of Providence area. The objectives include a mix of economic growth, climate resilience, and improved public health monitoring for residents.
According to the draft report’s findings, ProvPort needs to focus on modernizing its infrastructure and reinforcing environmental responsibility. It notes that “flooding, sea-level rise, and extreme weather pose real risks to port infrastructure, supply chains, and public investments.”
The plan also emphasizes economic development, workforce training, and local hiring to ensure the port is beneficial for Providence residents. The draft estimates short-term actions laid out in the plan “are expected to generate hundreds of jobs and roughly $200 million in investment,” by 2030.
By 2040, the report hopes, “Medium-term expansion could double ProvPort’s 2025 economic output and significantly increase the city’s revenue share, all while receiving a 70% reduction in greenhouse emissions.”
It also notes that the relationship between the port and nearby residents needs to be “actively managed,” and the development within the port needs to make strategic investments to maintain public health and meet city and state climate goals.
ProvPort said it hopes the final master plan will become a “national model.”
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