Terri Brooks

This document outlines a series of adaptation strategies for municipalities to address coastal hazards, particularly sea level rise and storm surge. Key focus areas include identifying at-risk areas using mapping tools, developing databases of exposed properties and infrastructure, and integrating sea level rise and storm surge considerations into municipal permit reviews. Other strategies involve facilitating voluntary property elevation, evaluating capital improvement projects for hazard exposure, developing incentives for voluntary adaptation, establishing emergency permitting processes, and planning for infrastructure resilience. The plan also addresses advancing participation in FEMA's Community Rating System and increasing open space while reducing density in vulnerable areas.

This technical paper provides data and findings to guide strategic planning for Rhode Island's land conservation and development through 2050. It analyzes land use changes over the past two decades, highlighting a decline in conservation and agricultural lands alongside an increase in residential and commercial development, particularly within urban service boundaries and near public transit. Key findings also address residential growth in flood zones and near conservation areas. The study identifies opportunities for infill development within urban and transit-accessible areas, while emphasizing the need to limit new residential construction in flood-prone regions and preserve natural and agricultural lands. It also suggests strategies for adjusting zoning to support mixed-use development and outlines future planning prospects related to housing needs for smaller and elderly households, investment in competitive sectors like tourism and the blue economy, and attracting talent in life sciences.

Housing 2030 is an actionable plan designed to address Rhode Island's pressing housing needs by producing and preserving housing to create strong, affordable, and accessible communities. The central goal is to permit 15,000 new homes by the end of 2030, encompassing diverse housing types and prioritizing the preservation of existing affordable units. Key strategies include establishing municipal housing production goals, addressing zoning and regulatory barriers, strategically investing in infrastructure and housing production, building and sustaining key partnerships, and supporting homeownership and housing stability.

The EC4 Advisory Board meeting included discussions on the RIEC4 news, the DOH Climate Change Impacts Dashboard, and finalizing recommendations for the climate dashboard. The recommendations included metrics for greenhouse gas emission reductions, clean electricity, and the Municipal Resilience Program. The board also discussed reporting and establishing goals for EV registrations, emissions avoided by energy efficiency investments, green jobs, and protected lands. Other topics included incentives for EVs, solar, heat pumps, EV charging infrastructure, vehicle miles travelled, fuel sales, real jobs data, RIPTA ridership, energy burden, RISE Energy Audits, C-PACE / EBF, home heating by fuel type, solid waste and recycling, advanced clean trucks, state fleet mileage, biodiesel fuel use, progress towards RI Mobility Plan, water consumption, climate literacy in public schools, investments in EJ communities, union clean energy training program participants, higher education graduates in green fields, apprentice demographics, job conversions, buildings fuel heating consumption by type, compliance with the RI Green Buildings Act, buildings that exceed minimum building code, precipitation, sea level rise, temperature, drought, air quality, traffic congestion, CCRI Offshore Wind Training Program, and electric school buses. The board also reviewed recommended dashboard practices, spotlight issues and topics, maps and visualizations.

The document outlines Rhode Island's FY26 State Plan for Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment. Building on its leadership in the NEVI Formula Program, the plan focuses on expanding EV charging to rural and secondary corridors, strengthening program resiliency, and advancing physical and cybersecurity requirements in line with FHWA's August 2025 guidance. Key priorities include utilizing remaining NEVI funds for competitive solicitations to expand community charging, incorporating community engagement outcomes into program design, and ensuring robust physical and cybersecurity measures for all charging stations. The state aims to fully invest its NEVI allocation directly in community charging infrastructure, building a reliable, secure, and future-ready EV charging network.