§ 42-6.2-3. Support for the council. To support the council's work, state agencies shall:

(1) Assist the council in implementing the provisions of this chapter;

(2) Develop short-and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and track the progress of these strategies;

(3) To the maximum extent feasible, purchase alternative fuel, hybrid, and electric vehicles that produce lower total emissions of greenhouse gases and develop programs to encourage state employees to reduce their vehicle miles and use sustainable transportation alternatives, including public transit systems;

(4) Implement programs to achieve energy savings in state and municipal buildings to reduce greenhouse gases, reduce expenditures on energy, and stimulate economic and job development;

(5) Increase the deployment of in-state generation of renewable energy and energy efficiency;

(6) Support efforts to expand Rhode Island's green economy and develop green infrastructure;

(7) Assess the vulnerability of infrastructure, including, but not limited to, roads, bridges, dams, and wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, to impacts of climate change and recommend strategies to protect these assets;

(8) Work with relevant academic institutions and federal agencies to assess the threats of sea level rise, erosion and storm surge, and communicate these assessments and threats, along with potential tools to address them, to state agencies and affected communities;

(9) Develop plans, policies, and solutions based on the latest science to ensure the state continues to have a vibrant coastal economy, including protection of critical infrastructure;

(10) Develop a climate and health profile report that documents the range of health impacts associated with climate change and identifies the most vulnerable populations;

(11) Encourages municipalities to incorporate climate change adaptation into local hazard mitigation plans and, when feasible, into hazard mitigation projects; and

(12) Take affirmative steps to eliminate and avoid duplication of effort through consistent coordination between agencies and programs, and pooling of resources, so as to make the most cost-efficient use of the state resources and provide the most effective services.

History of Section. (P.L. 2014, ch. 343, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 392, § 1.)