Jennifer Stewart

I support a just transition to a sustainable energy economy including projects like Revolution Wind (the 65 turbine wind farm with a planned 704 megawatt capacity which was just completed by union workers), solar energy, and other renewable energy sources. Rhode Island’s energy grid over relies on natural gas plants and imported energy. Our grid stability depends on transmission lines bringing power from out of state. So a transition to in state renewable energy sources is the best way to maintain grid reliability and avoid power outages.

As Climate Action Rhode Island has pointed out, part of Rhode Island’s transition to renewable energy is ensuring that Rhode Island Energy is held accountable by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC’s decision-making process can be difficult for ordinary citizens and nonprofit organizations to participate in because it often requires expensive expert analysis and testimony. As a result, Rhode Island Energy is the best-funded and most influential player in the room.

I will reintroduce the Intervenor Support Bill to help level the playing field during the PUC process by creating a fund to help qualified community groups and nonprofits participate in PUC proceedings by hiring the experts they need to effectively advocate for the public interest.

I will continue to support the work of grassroots utility justice groups like the George Wiley Center in Pawtucket and coalitions like Climate Jobs Rhode Island which recognize that our new green economy must be based on solid union jobs and access to electricity for our most at risk neighbors.

Keywords: Support for intervenors at the RI Public Utilities Commission

Unless we can ensure that new data centers do not put Rhode Islanders at risk, we should not allow them to be built in our state. Data center developers should bear the full cost - there should be no tax breaks or other financial support from Rhode Island tax payers for data centers, and there should be strong public community agreements to protect RI utility ratepayers and to ensure our environment is protected and developers make the proper choices that benefit everyday Rhode Islanders regarding power, water, public reporting and oversight, before a project moves forward. State and local government must be part of the agreement along with community groups so they can use their regulatory powers such as land-use approvals and zoning amendments to secure community benefits.

Keywords: strong public community agreements and oversight

Criteria should be developed in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council because they have relevant expertise. In general, I think that priority should be given to areas that the public has access to and can enjoy, along with areas where the economic status of the area indicates that residents can not afford to fund their own individual resiliency. All too often poor people and people of color suffer the worst effects of climate change, as we all saw when Hurricane Katrina hit the southeastern U.S. in 2005, for example.

Keywords: Our commitment to social justice must guide our response to climate change.

I strongly supported our legislation restricting use of polyfluoroalkyl substances in Rhode Island. The General Assembly must also ensure that our government agencies involved with testing and monitoring have the resources they need to ensure the the public health and evolve as new evidence about pervasiveness of PFAS and their effects on people, animals, and the environment. All drinking water from public water systems must be rigorously tested for all substances which can harm our health. We also have to ensure that private wells, such as those in Tiverton, are safe from PFAS, including by funding testing by our DEM and DOH. Our priority must be the health of Rhode Islanders.

Keywords: Our priority must be the health of Rhode Islanders.

The General Assembly passed a harm reduction pilot program and recently extended its run due to difficulty getting it established. Based on early reporting from its first year of operation it is making a difference in the prevention of overdoses - we have to track the numbers about use and outcomes over time. I think the state ought to make a greater investment in this area by making harm reduction a permanent program with more sites around the state.

These sites should provide basic-needs support with medical and behavioral health care to meet people where they are. The state should support people who want access to clinical services, including substance use treatment services, so they are able to immediately get connected to care.

I support the crucial work of Project Weber/RENEW and other harm reduction groups working on the front lines to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. Increased support for harm reduction initiatives can reduce crime and increase public safety.

Keywords: permanent, expanded comprehensive services to support harm reduction

It is important for RI to invest more in its health infrastructure, including research itself and to encourage Rhode Islanders to enter the fields involved in biomedical and scientific research. As the federal government has become a unreliable partner, more responsibility must shift to the states. We must also require more from the entities that receive such support with respect to public reporting - information must not only be available to the public; it must also be comprehensible and accessible to the public.

I also strongly support the efforts of the residents physicians and health care providers organized with SEIU and the Committee of Interns and Residents to ensure a just contract with fair compensation and work place protections for healthcare workers.

Keywords: State funding for biomedical and scientific research for the benefit of everyday Rhode Islanders.