Legislation Filed to Cut Vehicle Emissions

PROVIDENCE — The next debate over climate policy in the General Assembly is poised to begin with the introduction of legislation this week to implement a regional cap-and-invest pact aimed at slashing road emissions.

The bill, introduced in the Senate on Wednesday by Sen. Alana DiMario and set to be filed in the House on Thursday by Rep. Terri Cortvriend, comes after then-Governor Gina Raimondo agreed in December to make Rhode Island a founding member of the Transportation and Climate Initiative along with Massachusetts, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.

While Raimondo signed a memorandum of understanding with the other jurisdictions to join the agreement that would be the first program of its kind to cut carbon emissions from cars and trucks, legislation must get through the General Assembly and be signed into law by new Governor Daniel McKee for the program to be implemented in Rhode Island.

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State environmental groups also see Act on Climate as fundamental to the state’s efforts to slow down the warming of the planet, but organizations like the Acadia Center and Climate Action Rhode Island say that much more must be done to reach its goals. Cutting down on carbon pollution from vehicles, which makes up about 40 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the state, is key.

Read the full article in the Providence Journal here.