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Syndicate

Aug 28

Newport Goes Green

Thursday, 28 August 2008

On Tuesday night, Newport's new Energy and Environment Commission introduced itself to the local community, and NNN correspondent Susan Genett was there. Here is her report and her reactions to the event.

It seems the new group (which is not really too "new," since it has been working since February) already has had an impact -- the meeting began with City Councilor Charlie Duncan noting that a city ordinance that makes it against the law to idle engines more than five minutes, spewing noxious gases into the air, will be changed to apply more widely.

On Tuesday, the group's seven members outlined their seven main priorities -- energy efficiency in city buildings, recycling, diesel-engine idling, non-polluting modes of transportation, wind power and other forms of renewable energy, stormwater runoff, and public awareness and education. The panel invited more participation not only from Newporters but from all Aquidneck Islanders. Meetings will be held the ~~second Tuesday of every month at Newport City Hall. The next meeting, on September 9th, will address stormwater runoff.~~ Correction: Meetings will be held the fourth Thursday of each month, so the next meeting will be Sept. 25, at 7 PM at the Newport Public Library. All meetings are open to the public. A representative of the Police Dept will discuss enforcement of the 5-minute diesel idling law, also Charlie Duncan, who amended the public conveyance law recently, has been invited to speak.

The way I see it -- the panel is clearly knowledgeable about the issues, and while few of these goals are likely to be achieved anytime soon, it's a start -- the ball is rolling in the right direction. The audience, which included some residents from Middletown, asked many questions and brought attention to issues not specifically addressed by the commision, such as the disposal of compact flourescent lights, which are becoming the standard in city buildings. Many participants also noted that dealing with storm runoff is a daunting challenge, since overflows travel across town borders.

I asked Charlie Duncan afterward what inspired him to launch the Newport Goes Green task force, which had started the ball rolling in the city. He said, "My generation is not leaving you and today’s children with as pristine an environment as I once knew. I first noticed a negative effect when visiting the Adirondack Mountains many years ago. I was a tow captain on the Ohio River, watching smoke plumes from coal operations bend over in stiff West winds (flowing Eastward), and observing crystal-clear Adirondack streams with nothing living in 'em. That’s when I realized the impact from pollution." With more participation from residents all around the island, the commission's goals can become our reality.