Bridge Repairs Push Bikers Into Roadways Residents across Rhode Island’s East Bay are reeling over the extended closure of two East Bay Bike Path bridges, which many say signifies a loss of recreational opportunities, a blow to local business and a shift in the social fabric of their communities. More than 70 community members attended […]
Invasion of the Sacred Lotus When a Cranston resident planted a sacred lotus in the pond at Meshanticut State Park in memory of a family member in 2014, she didn’t realize the plant was an aggressive invasive species. The lotus, which features enormous floating leaves that shade out native plants, quickly took over a large […]
Wood Frogs Thaw Out Then Get Busy In southern New England, wood frogs are among the first species to emerge from winter hibernation, typically in mid to late March. Wood frogs produce a natural antifreeze that allows them to freeze almost completely solid in winter. Unique among frogs in the Northeast, the wood frog’s antifreeze […]
A lack of urgency and a deference to business interests by Rhode Island officials have allowed these three high-profile pollution problems to fester for more than a decade. Truk-Away Landfill. The Warwick landfill closed in 1978 and operated before strict regulations were in place. No one knows for sure what is buried beneath its 36 […]
Road to Renewables or Dead End? “The Road to 100% Renewable Electricity by 2030 in Rhode Island” outlines how established incentives and power mandates can achieve the target through a mix of programs and energy sources, such as offshore wind and small solar arrays. The report, authored by The Brattle Group for the Rhode Island […]
Providence’s 2021 Climate Resolutions The Office of Sustainability and the Environmental Sustainability Task Force are launching major environmental initiatives for the new year. Compost. The city is making another push for residential compost collection. A pilot program launched in 2013 had mixed results. The neighborhood drop-off service was funded by the city’s share of sales […]
When the Wind Blows … Local demand for offshore wind power continues to grow, as Rhode Island recently announced plans to buy up to 600 megawatts of new offshore wind energy to meet its renewable-energy targets. The offshore power grab aligns with Gov. Gina Raimondo’s goal to source 100 percent of the state’s energy from […]
Shell Game A local landmark climate lawsuit against a fossil-fuel behemoth has been given approval to proceed. U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith recently denied a request for dismissal by Shell Oil Products U.S. in a case brought by the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). The Boston-based environmental advocacy group alleges Shell failed to safeguard […]
Toxic Dirt Pile-up at 6-10 Connector Site in Olneyville The primary developer of the 6-10 Connector highway project, Barletta, must remove a pile of fill and all other soil tainted with hazardous waste within the extensive construction site. The recent directive came after heavy-equipment operators complained of excessive dust at worksites for the $410 million […]
Farming While Black (in Rhode Island)In 2017, there were just nine black farmers in Rhode Island. Frustrated with that statistic, Quatia “Q” Osorio became a farmer herself, and single-handedly brought the number into the double digits. Since 2018, she has been farming two pieces of property she owns in Providence. The story of farming in […]