Cicilline Joins Advocates in Woonsocket to Rally For Solutions to Climate Change

Community leaders and advocates rallied in Woonsocket over the weekend at Moving Planet: Rhode Island, a collaboration between the Sierra Club and the to seek local and national solutions to climate change. The event was part of a worldwide day of action, with hundreds of thousands of people expressing their support for fossil fuel-free modes of transportation and other key environmental issues.

“The YWCA is proud to partner with the Sierra Club to host this event in Woonsocket because it supports our - A City on the Move initiative,” said , YWCA Northern Rhode Island Chief Operating Officer.  “When more residents walk and bike as ways to move toward fossil fuel-free modes of transportation we will enhance the health, safety, and economic development of our city.”

Moving Planet: Rhode Island focused on four key issues important to Rhode Islanders:

• Federal 54.5 miles-per-gallon by 2025 proposed fuel efficiency standard: Supporting the proposed regulation by the Obama administration to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 5 percent annually as currently proposed beginning in 2017.

• Complete streets infrastructures throughout the Ocean State: Woonsocket is one of 6 Rhode Island communities that passed a resolution that supports bicycle and walking paths in their community with the goal of including these paths in any future infrastructure plans.
• Preserving RIPTA : Opposing any funding cuts or service route cuts.
• Proposed Blackstone National Park: Supporting the proposal to turn areas of the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor

“Policymakers have to continue to focus on making energy and transportation affordable for consumers and sustainable for our environment,” said U.S. Congressman David Cicilline during a presentation kicking off the event.

“With gas prices over $3.40 per gallon and no hope for relief in sight, we need our national and local lawmakers to adopt real solutions that save Rhode Islanders money and allow them to breathe cleaner air,” said Nicholas Oliver, Sierra Club’s Go 60 MPG Campaign Coordinator.

The 2012 Chevy Volt, the first electric vehicle to be sold in Rhode Island, was also at the event. Several participants, including Cicilline, had the opportunity to take a test drive courtesy of Simon Chevrolet.

“Rhode Island is poised to be a leader in all facets of transportation reform; from promoting alternative fuel vehicles, to developing walkable, transit-oriented communities, to providing a comprehensive public transportation system,” said Abel Collins, Rhode Island Sierra Club’s Program Manager. “We are fortunate to have such strong leadership on this issue from our congressional delegation and at the State House.”