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Households struggle as legislation for utility rate relief stalls
A $54 energy bill rebate might not seem like much. But for Erika Gonzalez, every little bit helps. Especially this year, with record rate hikes tripling electricity costs for her Pawtucket condo, from $60 to $180, just as her husband got laid off from his warehouse job. Left with her $17,000 take-home pay as a […]
Shekarchi says he will not run for Cicilline’s soon-to-open seat
One of the top would-be contenders for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District seat is a no-go. Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi confirmed Friday he will not run for the seat being opened up by longtime U.S. Rep. David Cicilline. Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, said his decision was “not a political one, but a […]
No competition: State bid for more offshore wind gets one response
It was supposed to be a competitive bidding process when the state announced last October it wanted to bring more offshore wind to Rhode Island. But only one development team responded. The 884-megawatt farm proposed by Orsted A/S and Eversource Energy submitted the lone proposal to Rhode Island Energy, the state’s primary utility operator announced […]
$3.7M in federal home-heating funding coming to Ocean State
Rhode Island is getting an extra $3.7 million to help low-income residents keep the heat on at home, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed announced Thursday.
NOAA to open $150M marine research base in Newport
A federal marine operations and research base is shipping off to Aquidneck Island. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed on Wednesday announced that the government was finalizing plans to relocate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Operations Center from Norfolk, Virginia, to Newport Naval Station. The $150 million project will bring about 200 jobs to […]
AG, DEM file lawsuit to stop sewage discharge into Blackstone River
Three strikes, you’re out. After leaking partially untreated sewage into the Blackstone River at least three times in the last year, the owners and operators of the Woonsocket Wastewater Treatment Facility are being sued. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Terrence Gray Wednesday announced the dual agency […]
McKee wants Wavemaker fellowships to address teacher shortage
Gov. Dan McKee is seeking to expand the Wavemaker Fellowship student loan forgiveness program to include teachers even though applicants to the program have been on the decline.
Orsted A/S and Eversource Energy submit joint wind farm proposal
Familiar names in Rhode Island offshore wind are vying for a contract to bring even more offshore wind energy to the Ocean State. Orsted A/S and Eversource Energy are proposing an 884-megawatt wind farm off the coast of Block Island, within the same federal lease area as the 100-turbine project they are already developing for […]
McKee budget grants sales tax break for pickup truck trade-ins
If approved, pickup truck owners would get a tax discount on their purchase of a new or used vehicle equal to the sales tax on the value of the truck they are trading in.
State House page job postings are ‘word of mouth’
The State House student page program is no exception to Rhode Island’s “know a guy” politics. But some say the growing push toward open government and inclusion should extend to the page program, too.
Healey’s proposed estate tax threshold could have grave consequences here
Rhode Island tax policy analysts are closely watching what happens to Mass. Gov. Maura Healey's proposal to raise the Bay State's estate tax exemption from $1 million to $3 million. The Ocean State threshold is currently $1.7 million.