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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