We were disappointed by the governor’s recent veto of the renewable energy bill (which the General Assembly may override), but the state continues to move forward into an alternative-energy future.
Starting next month, a two-year joint project between the Coastal Resources Management Council and the University of Rhode Island will create a framework for offshore energy projects.
The Special Area Management Plan, or SAMP, will streamline the process for bringing alternative energy projects online in Rhode Island’s waters. Just as importantly, by establishing standards that will remove the need for an Environmental Impact Statement, it should help keep the dreaded NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) crowd at bay. The Office of Energy Resources estimates that that change alone could save three to five years for projects.
That does not mean that the SAMP is a way to bypass responsible planning in environmentally and culturally sensitive areas. Rather, by setting the ground rules up front, developers will know what is required and will not need to be reined in after the fact.
We agree with the governor’s goal to supply at least 15 percent of the state’s energy needs through wind power. The only way to bring both environmental stewardship and economic progress together is through the creation of wind, solar and tidal energy projects, and a de-emphasis on fossil fuel.
The start of the process – accomplished when the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund approved $3.2 million in funding for the SAMP – is an important step toward energy independence and toward the future. •
