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March 5, 2008

Montalbano to unveil alternative energy bills

Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano will unveil renewable energy legislation tomorrow at a news conference at 3 p.m., his spokesman announced today.

Senate leaders plan to gather in the State House in room 313 to discuss the bills.

Part of the legislation would "consolidate and coordinate state policies, priorities and investments designed to promote renewable energy," according to a statement released today by Montalbano's spokesman, Greg Pare.

Related bills would encourage private investment in the state’s renewable energy sector; address municipal renewable energy projects; define a method of selling small amounts of renewable energy; and promote small scale projects.

Montalbano, Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed, Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere and Sen. William A. Walaska plan to attend the announcement. They will be joined by Matt Auten, an advocate for Environment Rhode Island; Daniel C. Beardsley Jr., executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns; and Michael F. Ryan, National Grid’s president of Rhode Island distribution.

Montalbano first announced the bills last month at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon, The Providence Journal reported.

Governor Carcieri has been promoting the development of wind farms off the Rhode Island coast. And there has also been talk of using waves to generate energy.

Today, however, The Providence Journal reported that the agency that regulates Rhode Island’s coastline, the Coastal Resources Management Council, has proposed a one-year moratorium on wind farms and wave generators so it can develop a special management plan that will determine where such projects will be allowed.

For more local breaking business news, visit the Biz Blog at projo.com/business.

--- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Benjamin N. Gedan  at 6:40 PM | Permalink

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