The event will be held at the offices of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, 235 Promenade St., Providence. It is free and open to the public.
The Petroleum Savings and Independence Advisory Commission was established this year by the General Assembly to make recommendations on how to reduce petroleum-based fuel consumption in Rhode Island and decrease the state’s emissions of greenhouse gases.
“This forum is intended to engage potential stakeholders to learn more about the goals and vision of the commission and to exchange ideas for making it as effective as possible,” said Wendy Lucht, coordinator of the Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition. “We have a lot to do to meet the state’s target of reducing petroleum consumption by 30 percent by 2030 and by 50 percent by 2050.”
The discussion will be moderated by Robert Morton, president of the board of Clean Cities and a founder of Newport Biodiesel. Part of the meeting will consist of a panel discussion featuring Marion Gold, administrator of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources; Channing Jones, field associate for Environment Rhode Island; state representative Deborah Ruggiero; and state senator Lou DiPalma.
Those with a professional interest in petroleum reduction, especially in the transportation sector, are encouraged to attend.
One of 87 such coalitions around the country, the Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition receives programmatic support from the URI Energy Center and has been promoting alternative fuels in Rhode Island since 1998.
For additional information about the Clean Cities Coalition or the September 6 meeting, contact Wendy Lucht at 401-874-2792 or wlucht@uri.edu.