Raimondo signs clean energy accord with 16 other governors

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo on Tuesday joined 16 other U.S. governors in committing to expand clean energy resources, modernize energy infrastructure and promote collaborative practices.

Raimondo, along with the other New England governors except Maine Gov. Paul R. LePage, signed a bipartisan pledge, dubbed the Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future, which the second-year governor says shows collaboration that’s key to ensuring a strong energy future.

“This accord acknowledges the challenges we face and our commitment to addressing them,” Raimondo said in a statement. “I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the country to find innovative ways to grow our economy, tackle climate change and shrink our carbon footprint.”

The governors all agree that now is the time to “embrace a bold vision of the nation’s energy future,” according to the accord. The signed document details areas of focus, including diversifying energy generation, modernizing energy infrastructure, encouraging clean transportation, and collaborating between states and with the federal government.

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“Embracing new energy solutions can provide more durable and resilient infrastructure and enable economic growth while protecting the health of our communities and natural resources,” according to the document. “These improvements will help secure a safe and prosperous future for our country.”

Raimondo points to the document as an example of how she’s leading a state at the forefront of addressing climate change and supporting clean energy. One of the state’s top coastal experts recently told Providence Business News sea level would rise in the Ocean State by a foot in the next 20 years, which is more than double the rate since 1929. The impending environmental changes have spurred some action from federal and state politicians, including Raimondo, who in December signed an executive order saying the state would use 100 percent renewable energy in state government by 2025 and reduce energy use by 10 percent by 2019. The R.I. Senate this year announced growing jobs in so-called green industries would be one of its legislative priorities this session.

“Rhode Island is committed to securing a clean and affordable energy future,” Raimondo said.

Rhode Island last year ranked fourth in the nation for energy efficiency, slipping from third place a year earlier, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The nonprofit ranked Providence No. 32 out of 51 large U.S. cities for energy efficiency.
Other governors to sign the document include those from: California; Connecticut; Delaware; Hawaii; Iowa; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Nevada; New Hampshire; New York; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Vermont; Virginia; and Washington.

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