Maybe you've caught Patrick Kennedy's TV spot about green jobs for R.I. (you can view it online). And here is another local candidate from Aquidneck Island, promoting a green economy as the key to our economic future, over at RI Future. Could this be an idea whose time has finally arrived?

The League of Conservation Voters released its annual "report card" on the national legislature today, and Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse both scored a perfect 100 percent. In the House, Rep. Patrick Kennedy scored 77 percent, while Rep. James Langevin earned a 92.

"The majority of the 11 Senate and 13 House votes in the 2008 Scorecard are energy votes that presented Congress with a real choice," says the LCV. " [Either] chart a bold new course that puts Americans back to work, saves families money at the gas pump and on home heating bills, improves our national security, and protects the planet for future generations; or, continue the disastrous energy policies of the last eight years that have benefited only the oil industry."

For more details, go to the LCV Web site.

This might weigh in under the "duh, no kidding!" category, but interesting nonetheless to see a study showing that spending time outdoors has a postiive impact on kids.

Click here for the story.

Today is a busy day for local green events! And it looks like a bright fall weekend ahead, an excellent time to get out and enjoy the fall colors from our rivers and hiking trails. Keep in mind it's hunting season though -- wear lots of orange and stick to trails at the wildlife refuges.

Tonight, Providence Green Drinks is hosted by Durkee Brown Viveiros & Werenfels architects, from 5 to 8 pm at 111 Chestnut St., in Providence's historic Jewelry District. Click here for directions. All are welcome to meet and mingle with your RI neighbors who share an interest in a greener future. Tonight is also Electoberfest, a fundraiser at Trinity Brewhouse to support the awesome work of Clean Water Action. Click here for details. 

Saturday morning, the Pawtuxet Farmers Market wraps up its season with its annual Pumpkin and Paw Paw Festival, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. Come by from 9 to noon for hay rides, cooking demos by Johnson & Wales kids, canoe rides, a nature walk by the river, a baked goods and plant sale, and a kids craft activity. You can also drop off your plastic flower pots and six-packs for farmers to re-use. And farmers will have plenty of peppers, winter squash, apples, potatoes, lettuce, onions, beets and, of course, pumpkins and paw paws -- a papaya-like fruit with a flavor somewhere between a banana and a mango, high in protein -- for sale.

Also on Saturday, the organizers of The Greene School, an eco-charter school in the works for West Greenwich, invite anyone who'd like to help with fundraising to meet from 2 to 4 pm at the Loutitt Library, Route 102 in West Greenwich. Click here for more info. 

You can also catch the opening of an interesting new exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park this weekend. Space ARTifacts: imagination and exploration examines the relationship between humans and space travel. From 1 to 3 on Saturday you can meet the artist, Steven Santaniello. Two new planetarium shows debut: Return to Flight: Salute to the Space Shuttle at 1 and Sky Views: Patterns in the Night Sky at 2, both Saturday and Sunday. Click here for more info.

Audubon in Bristol hosts its annual Bird & Wildlife Carving Expo, Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 4. Click here for info on the Expo and Audubon's full calendar of events.

It's not too late to sign up for URI's Master Energy program, which starts Monday. This five-session program will provide you with practical information about how to save money and the environment with energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Tuesday, URI's People & the Planet series continues with "Human causes and responses to global climate change," with Ralph J. Cicerone, president of the National Academy of Sciences. Click here for details and directions.

The Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) gave the Rhode Island General Assembly a “B” for the 2007-2008 legislative session in their biannual Green Report Card released last Friday. The report card also graded legislators individually on their environmental voting record and leadership. The grades are based on a variety of environmental bills regarding clean air, clean water, protecting open space lands, clean and renewable energy, wildlife habitat, sustainable land use, transportation, toxic chemicals, recycling or resource recovery/landfill and open accountable governance.

“The environment won on several key issues this session, with bills promoting renewable energy as well as bills protecting Rhode Islanders from toxic diesel pollution from school buses, electronic waste, and water pollution resulting from unsafe cesspools.  We are encouraged that our state legislators are taking action on important environmental issues,” said ECRI President Denise Parrillo.

The Green Report Card also provides an analysis of Governor Carcieri’s performance as well, finding his environmental record is inconsistent, leaving room for improvement in some key areas.

Click on "More..." for the full news release with details of the group's analysis and priorities.

Solar energy is happening fast -- though here in RI we are missing out somewhat, due to a lack of state incentives to help make the costs competitive. Our state's biggest solar company, SolarWrights, is exanding like wildfire into neighboring states, while projects here fail to happen. Nonetheless, here is some bright news! SolarWrights is joining forces with Solar Works to create the biggest solar company in the Northeast. The new company brings together the region's leading designer and installer of commercial solar systems with the region's largest residential solar energy provider. Click on "More..." to read the full text of the company's news release. SolarWrights was also featured in a recent New York Times story about the solar biz.

In other news, Bernie's appliance stores in RI now will carry solar systems, the company said this week.

The national election has been soaking up a lot of our attention, but not to forget, we will also be voting for our local reps in the General Assembly on Nov. 4. These choices are vitally important -- when it comes to environmental action, most of the important stuff gets done at the local level. So when it's time to make that choice, having an endorsement from our local eco groups can be an important factor.

This week, Clean Water Action released its list of endorsed candidates for the General Assembly, click on "More..." for the details.

You can also find out more at this Thursday's Electoberfest, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Trinity Brewhouse in Providence. A $25 donation is suggested for this fundraising event, proceeds will benefit Clean Water Action’s work both to elect pro-environment candidates and to pass and enforce laws to protect Rhode Island’s environment. To RSVP or for more information, call Clean Water Action at (401) 331-6972. Call today to be an event sponsor listed on the invitation and in the program book for $50-1000.