[Enter your text here]
Natural Environment
Newport Energy Task Force Challenge
In June 2007, the Newport City Council created a Task Force charged to recommend best practices for the City in the reduction of global warming pollution, and to research and bring forward energy savings proposals for the City. That Task Force became the permanent Energy and Environment Committee for the City of Newport in March 2008.
Currently, there are seven positions on the Commission. ALN Development Chair, Lauren Carson, is a member of this Commission, appointed April 2011, for a two year term.
The priorities of the Commission are to monitor energy efficiency in public buildings; to encourage all recycling programs, public and private in Newport; to support non-polluting forms of transportation in the city, wind power and other forms of renewable energy; to monitor efforts to manage storm water run-off; to raise public awareness and education in the local media; and to support environmental education in Newport City schools.
The Commission is encouraging Newport to become a more sustainable city, for both residents and our many visitors from all over the world. Over the past months, the Commission has successfully encouraged the Newport City Council to pass a resolution to support statewide legislation for increased recycling and producer responsibility; supported Newport recycling day on November 19, 2011; met with the School Department to encourage both stronger environmental programming for Newport’s students and to monitor energy and environmental practices in our schools, as well as the plan for a sustainable Pell School.
The Commission’s minutes and agendas can be found at the City of Newport website at http://www.cityofnewport.com/city-council/boards-commissions/home.cfm The Commission generally meets the last Thursday of the month at 6:00 at the Newport Library and the meetings are open to the public and all are welcome. In addition, the meetings are videotaped and can be watched both on local cable and at the Newport record website http://www.thenewportrecord.com/.
(article contributed by Lauren Carson)
Why is the Natural Environment important for a livable Newport?
Clean air and water are basic to good health everywhere. However, for Newport, many of the key reasons people are attracted to visit and live here relate to our environment: clean water, air quality and adequate infrastructure for all the wonderful outdoor recreational activities and historic treasures Newport has to offer.
