Environment

Advocates Protest Legislation Allowing Schools on Toxic Sites

Bradley Campbell — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:28:28 +0000

Environmental advocates gathered at the Statehouse Wednesday to protest legislation that would roll back restrictions that prevent schools from building on toxic sites.

How Frequent are Tornadoes in New England?

Flo Jonic — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:45:01 +0000

It’s hard not to be moved by the plight of Moore, Oklahoma which was hit by a catastrophic tornado Monday. Hundreds of buildings were flattened and at least 24 people, including nine children, were killed.

Experts say New England is less likely to be hit by a tornado than anywhere else east of the Rocky Mountains. New England averages eight tornadoes a year, but they tend to be weak events – on the scale of EF0 or EF1. The storm that hit Moore, Oklahoma has been categorized an EF5.

Brown Divestment Group to Appear Before the Corporation

Bradley Campbell — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:25:12 +0000

A student-led protest group at Brown University will attend the Corporation’s annual meeting Thursday to answer questions about climate change. The group wants the university to divest from fossil fuel companies.

Closed East Providence Recycling Facility to be Removed

Bradley Campbell — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:21:57 +0000

A contentious recycling facility in East Providence will close. The Department of Environmental Management will use bond money to pay the property owner to remove all construction and demolition debris from the site.

Portsmouth Desperately Seeking Private Wind Energy Partner

Bradley Campbell — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:42:24 +0000

In Portsmouth, the town council wants to see if a private firm could help fix and run its broken wind turbine.

Westerly Starts Spraying for Mosquitos

Flo Jonic — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:32:53 +0000

Westerly residents may be awakened to the sounds of helicopters overhead Thursday morning. Continuing a practice begun in 1997, the town of Westerly is conducting aerial spraying against mosquitos.

The targeted areas are portions of Chapman Swamp and the swamp area adjacent to Hespar Drive.

The town uses Bti, a naturally occurring bacterium which prevents larval mosquitoes from developing into adults. The state Department of Environmental Management says it safe to humans and the environment.

Spraying begins Thursday at 7:00am and continues through 2:00pm.

Senate Finance Committee Reconsiders Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Bradley Campbell — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:31:16 +0000

The state may once again help out residents looking to add wind or solar power to their homes. The senate finance committee will look at a plan Wednesday to restore a renewable energy tax credit.

Portsmouth Stuggles To Deal With Broken Wind Turbine

Bradley Campbell — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:31:42 +0000

The Portsmouth town Council will get an update tonight on its broken wind turbine. The turbine has stood motionless for almost a year.

Narragansett Suspends Talks with Deepwater Wind

Bradley Campbell — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:25:41 +0000

The Narragansett Town Council Voted 5-0 to suspend talks with the offshore wind turbine developer, Deepwater Wind, until June. The council felt its residents needed more time to vet a plan to run a transmission line through a popular beach.

Will Narragansett allow a Transmission Line on Town Beach?

Bradley Campbell — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:57:42 +0000

The Narragansett Town Council is holding a public meeting tonight that could be critical to the plans for an offshore wind project off the coast of Block Island.

The Block Island Wind farm would place five wind turbines off the southeast coast of Block Island. The company in charge of it is Deepwater Wind. It plans to connect the wind turbines and the Island to the power grid on the mainland with a 21 mile underwater cable. Deepwater Wind wants that cable to come ashore in Narragansett.