Rotary governor candidates discuss environmental issues

Here are some of the points they covered:

local climate change

Local climate change was at the forefront of Tuesday’s discussion forum. Candidates agreed that this was probably the most pressing environmental topic in the state.

But what could be done about it? Kalus, for his part, drew attention to issues such as offshore wind and sustainable aquaculture.

Foulkes talked about serving cities and towns with resilience plans, just like Warren and Windfall.

Brown mentioned he would shut down the fossil fuel trade in the Port of Windfall, a theme he returned to in a single day and highlighted its disproportionate influence on underserved communities. He often used the port and oil trade to attack McKee and Gorbea. He noted that the Sea 3 lobbyist who proposed growth in the port of Windfall had made a donation to McKee, and that the Gorbea buyers had benefited from a fundraiser organized by a lobbyist whose buyers included companies in the fossil fuel sector. Brown challenged them to return those donations. When asked if he wanted to respond, McKee declined.

Gorbea responded to Brown, “I am completely dedicated to working for the people of Rhode Island and making sure we have a government that responds to local climate change. These are distracting means that you and your supporters use to keep you away from the real business. And the stand is nice. It’s nice to capture moments. However, at the end of the day, what we really want are the people chosen to do the job.

With regard to climate change generally, McKee noted what his government has already done in the nearly 12 and a half months since he took over from Gina Raimondo: signing the local weather law, providing a new offshore wind turbine and reactivation of a government committee on local climate change.

“Offering management when it’s really a problem – that’s what we do,” McKee said.

Candidates were also asked whether or not Rhode Island would follow the example of states like Massachusetts, which announced plans requiring all vehicles purchased in the state to be electric by 2035. McKee and Foulkes said they would be willing to set a particular goal. Date. phase out gasoline-powered vehicles; Gorbea mentioned that he would “completely help” set a date of 2035; Muñoz and Brown mentioned that they would be open earlier than Massachusetts. Kalus didn’t help that, saying he believed more in elections than accountability.

“If we set a date too soon, what you’re going to do is create a negative incentive for people to leave the state to buy gas-powered vehicles,” Kalus said. “And if that happens, it can also hurt the auto trade, local Rhode Island sellers, and gross sales taxes.”

Coastal Assets Board of Directors

The CRMC is an understaffed and underfunded public enterprise that serves an amazing function in regulating the state’s atmosphere and addressing the broader challenges of local climate change. He approves or disapproves of everything from coastal entrance fees to oyster farms and wind farms. However, while its skilled workers are primarily revered for their work, its politically appointed board has sparked controversy over the years.

Foulkes mentioned he was going to blow up the business. He mentioned that he would abolish the politically appointed council of the CRMC.

“It’s the last example of a word to assemble a person in this state,” Foulkes said. “That’s a shame.”

Muñoz also targeted CRMC. He cited as an example the failure to meet permitted necessities for appointees, which he has done so far.

“We want a whole new board,” Muñoz said.

McKee said the CRMC had “room for improvement” but didn’t need to underestimate the people currently on the board, signaling that he wasn’t too open to the additional base change that Foulkes was pushing for. .

In the meantime, Gorbea mentioned that restructuring is generally mandatory.

“But at the end of the day, it’s really about the management being put on them,” he said. “So you want a supervisor who takes environmental insurance policies really critically and makes sure our environmental insurance policies are based primarily on information and science.”

Who to ask for advice on environmental issues

Fitzpatrick caused a flash: if you could name anyone on earth for an environmental recommendation, who wouldn’t it be?

Brown: Monica Huertas, Windfall resident and conservationist.

McKee: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Gorbea: Johnathan Berard is an affiliate who was previously CEO of Clear Water Motion.

Muñoz recognized a few: Bella and Randy Noka, who were members of the Narragansett Indian tribe and attended Tuesday’s chat room, and reporters John Manock and Steve Ahlquist.

Kalus: Former Rhode Island Republican Governor Donald Carcieri.

Foulkes: Janet Coit, former director of the Rhode Island Environmental Administration.

Brian Amaral can be reached at [email protected]. follow him on twitter @bamaral44.