05-R 141

2005 -- S 0861

Enacted 03/29/05

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

URGING RHODE ISLAND'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO COMMIT TO THE

PURCHASE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Introduced By: Senators Perry, Goodwin, C Levesque, and Connors

Date Introduced: March 02, 2005

     WHEREAS, The issue of global climate change has become a matter of serious concern

in both domestic and international environmental affairs; and

     WHEREAS, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme

(UNEP) in 1988, has reported its findings that "the Earth's climate system has demonstrably

changed on both global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era, with some of these

changes attributable to human activities; and

     WHEREAS, The IPCC has also stated: "Human activities have increased the atmospheric

concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols since the pre-industrial era. The atmospheric

concentrations of key anthropogenic greenhouse gases reached their highest recorded levels in the

1990s, primarily due to the combustion of fossil fuels, agriculture, and land-use changes;" and

     WHEREAS, On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), took effect, demonstrating both an international

concern regarding the effects of climate change by the 141 parties that have ratified the Kyoto

Protocol and a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the Kyoto Protocol's 37

industrialized country signatories; and

     WHEREAS, On June 24, 2004, Governor Carcieri and the State of Rhode Island

committed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and the state passed the Rhode Island Clean

Energy Bill, which requires utilities to purchase an increasing percentage of renewable energy

every year, ultimately reaching 16% by 2020; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's colleges and universities, as contributors to the state's culture

and economy, also account for a significant portion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas

emissions in the state; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

urges the administrations of Rhode Island's colleges and universities to assess campus energy use

and join the state of Rhode Island in committing to the purchase of renewable energy; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of state be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Presidents of Rhode Island's colleges and

universities.

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LC02679

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