Wind energy bill passed by R.I. Senate
Plans to develop wind turbines to generate electricity off Rhode Island’s coastline took at least two steps forward Tuesday, despite withering objections from a broad array of special-interest groups.
The Senate Environment Committee, after hearing four hours of almost unrelenting criticism of a bill that would send the power-purchase agreement for an eight-turbine wind farm off Block Island back to the Public Utilities Commission, quickly voted 5 to 2 in favor of the legislation. And Tuesday night, the full Senate approved the legislation in a 25-to-10 vote.
An identical bill was to be heard by the House Environment Committee late Tuesday night, and could reach the House floor on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Governor Carcieri joined nine other Atlantic state governors in signing what may be viewed as an historic memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Interior to promote development of wind resources on the Outer Continental Shelf. Read more…
