PROVIDENCE – Just a few months ago, environmental advocates complained that the green bond issue set to go before Rhode Island voters on the November ballot wasn’t green enough.
But on Friday, representatives of the state’s largest environmental groups stood with elected officials in support of what is now a $53-million bond proposal that was amended in the waning weeks of the last legislative session to allocate funding for the preservation of undeveloped lands.
“This green bond is very green,” House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi proclaimed at the kickoff campaign for Question 4 on the ballot.
Green Bond amount was changed after outcry over land protection
In past election cycles, there’s been little controversy surrounding the proposals to borrow tens of millions of dollars to fund parks improvements, climate protection and other environmental endeavors around the state.
But when Gov. Dan McKee unveiled this year’s proposal in the winter, advocacy groups cried foul, complaining that he’d failed to set aside funding for land preservation, as is typical .