PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — With views of Narragansett Bay and towering wind turbines, Rhode Island leaders gathered at Save the Bay’s Providence campus Friday to call on voters to approve Ballot Question 4 in November.
The $53 million referendum, known as the “green bond,” would go toward climate infrastructure and protecting the state’s natural resources.
The largest infusion of cash, $15 million, would be invested in Quonset Port. Gavin Black, the president of the R.I. Ports Coalition, said the money will be used to make infrastructure upgrades.
“Quonset needs to reinforce the piers and invest in its shoreside capacity in order to capture more offshore wind cargo,” Black said. “That’s really been a boon to the Rhode Island economy the past two years.”
Director of Environmental Management Terrence Gray said the green bond would also go to other projects across the state, including $3 million for the Newport Cliff Walk and $10 million to help communities make their infrastructure more resilient against the effects of climate change.