Providence commits to carbon-neutrality in all city-owned buildings, including schools, by 2040
"I would love for us to be able to do this for all buildings in Providence but we're precluded by state law from doing that," said Councilmember Anderbois.
The Providence City Council unanimously passed legislation that commits to carbon neutrality in all city-owned buildings (including schools) by 2040 on Thursday. Carbon neutrality “is a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing their environmental impact. Going carbon neutral can involve the use of renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and adopting sustainable practices.”
Here’s the press conference held shortly after the vote:
Council President Rachel Miller: A few months ago we proclaimed Providence as the first Climate Jobs City and what happened today is exactly what we're talking about. And we're just getting started. We are creating a 2040 deadline to update the municipal and school facilities. It's a win-win-win, a triple whammy because we have:
Providence doing its part to meet the goals set in the state's Act on Climate plan;
We are creating healthy, safe, sustainable buildings for the public, our students, and our teachers; and,
We're creating a mandate to require registered apprenticeships as our path to get there.
Alongside our city's other commitments to local hiring, MBE (Minority Business Enterprises), and WBE (Women Business Enterprises) use, that means that we're investing in the workforce and helping turn a one-time job into a life-changing career for Providence residents.
Councilmember Susan Anderbois (Ward 3): This is the first concrete way that we are implementing our commitment to be America's first climate job city. This is also a specific recommendation in the climate justice plan.
It requires all municipal buildings to be carbon neutral by the year 2040, with strong labor standards and apprenticeship programs, to ensure that how we do the work is as important as getting to carbon neutrality. We're not just going to build the same bad economy we have now but with a little green color. We're going to do it right this time. Note also that immediately there'll be no new gas hub hookups for usable buildings.
A few people have asked why not all the buildings in Providence and to that, I say I would love for us to be able to do this for all buildings in Providence but we're precluded by state law from doing that. So I encourage my colleagues to support the legislation that our friends at Green Energy Consumers Alliance are putting forward at the State House, to try and push for all-electric buildings statewide for all new construction.
This legislation is a way that we can lead by example, not only in meeting our climate goals but in improving the health and safety of our buildings. These are school and municipal buildings where our workers work day in and day out, and we're removing harmful polluting appliances and other harmful things from those buildings and making them safer places for our kids and our city workers. This is an important and necessary step to achieve our climate mandates, but it's only the first of very many steps we're going to take together...
The state mandate is that we're going to be carbon neutral, economy-wide, by 2050. This legislation is us implementing our portion of it as fast as we can. You can get to those goals earlier, it's fine to get there early. For us to meet the statewide mandate, some things are going to have to be done earlier. If this is something we can do now, we have to do it now. It's the city leading by example to get there.
Steve Ahlquist: You mentioned this is the first step. What is the second or third step coming? What do you have on tap?
Susan Anderbois: Hold tight, Steve. There's so much coming.
Michael Roles [Climate Jobs Rhode Island]: I love how on-message we are. A win for climate, a win for justice, a win for jobs. This ordinance helps to tackle climate change at the scale and pace that science demands. It requires utilizing registered apprenticeship programs. It expands good-paying career opportunities for communities that need it the most and it ensures that this work is done with the kinds of wages that lift people out of poverty. It facilitates 21st-century facilities for Providence children and families, including our schools and our recreation centers, and it further aligns the policy priorities of the City with the Providence Climate Justice Plan, a plan which was developed by Providence Frontline communities.
There is no better time than now, with historic investments from the federal government, the biggest since the New Deal of the 1930s. These are investments that the city will be able to utilize for the purposes laid out in this ordinance. And we know that this ordinance is just the beginning. We have more work to do and we look forward to working with the City Council and the Mayor's office to usher in a just transition for the City of Providence.
Patrick Crowley [Secretary-TreasuerRI AFL-CIO]: It's very easy for bodies like this to pass a resolution, put it on a shelf, and let it collect dust. It's pretty easy for mayors across the country to take an ordinance like this and just say, "Thank you very much." This City Council, led by Council President Miller, led by Councilor Anderbois, and every single member of this body, has shown that this city is going to lead the way to a transition to a different economy in this country. They took action, they showed leadership, they showed determination, and damn it, we're going to make this economy something that we can be proud of.