>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> SEA LEVEL RISE NOW POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE AGING FOX POINT HURRICANE BARRIER.

>> INHERENT TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS THE ASSUMPTION THAT THESE THINGS ARE SEPARATE.

YOU GET THIS MAXIMUM SURGE AND MAXIMUM FRESHWATER INPUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE WORST POSSIBLE PROBLEM.

>> IT WAS CONSIDERED A SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING STRATEGY, BUT WHEN IT STARTED MAKING THE JOURNEY, THE PROGRAM STARTED TO LOSE ITS LUSTER.

>> WHEN IT WENT OVER TO CHINA, THEY WOULD ONLY TAKE THE GOOD STUFF AND THROW AWAY THE BAD STUFF.

WE WOULD COUNT THAT AS OUR GOOD RECYCLING, BUT IN REALITY, WE WERE GIVING THEM A LOT OF GARBAGE.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

TONIGHT OUR BROADCAST WILL CENTER ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH OUR CONTINUING GREEN SEEKER SERIES.

UNIQUELY POSITIONED, THE OCEAN STATE STANDS AT THE FOREFRONT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

CASE IN POINT COME THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE IS A GEOGRAPHICALLY UNIQUE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

VULNERABLE TO COASTAL AND INLAND FLOODING, IT RELIES HEAVILY ON THE BARRIER FOR PROTECTION.

AS JOHN SMITH FOUND, MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER IT WAS COMPLETED AND WITH THE IMPENDING THREAT OF SEA LEVEL RISE, THE SENTINEL OF THE CITY IS BEING ASKED TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING THAT IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO DO.

>> IN THE NET -- SEPTEMBER 1938, RHODE ISLAND WAS PUMMELED BY A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE.

GUSTS OF WIND -- REACHING 125 MILES PER HOUR BATTERED THE CAPITAL CITY.

THE TRUE DESTRUCTION DID NOT COME FROM THE WIND BUT FROM THE STROKE -- STORM SURGE THAT CRIPPLED IN UNSUSPECTING DOWNTOWN.

IT WOULD BE ANOTHER 16 YEARS AND ANOTHER HURRICANE BEFORE CONGRESS ORDERED THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO CREATE A PLAN TO HELP PROVIDENCE AVOID ANOTHER CLIMATE CATASTROPHE.

THE RESULT WAS THE FOX POINT HURRICAN BARRIER, COMPLETED IN 1966, IT WAS THE FIRST PROTECTION STRUCTURE IN THE U.S. AND THE DESIGNERS OF THE DAY WERE VERY PROUD OF IT.

>> THE LEVEL OF THE STRUCTURE, PLUS THE EMBANKMENTS ON THE EAST AND WEST ARE SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT PROVIDENCE FROM A REOCCURRENCE OF THE 1938 AND 1954 HURRICANES.

>> IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ADEQUATELY ESTIMATE THE GREAT BENEFIT THAT THIS WOULD BE TO THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE AND THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

HUNDREDS OF LIVES, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR PEOPLE WILL BE SAFE BEYOND ANYONE'S ABILITY TO CALCULATE.

>> NO MATTER HOW SATISFACTORY THE ORIGINAL BUILDERS BELIEVED IT TO BE, NEARLY SIX DECADES LATER, RISING SEA LEVEL THREATENS TO CREATE NEW CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS ITS ABILITY?

>> SOMETHING THAT THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND.

>> THREE DECADES AGO, PEOPLE STARTED TAKING A LOOK AT IT IN PARTICULAR AREAS, THE SMALL LEVELS OF CHANGE ARE NOT SO EXCITING, BUT YOU START TO SEE THE RATES CHANGE, A FEW MILLILITERS, NOT SO EXCITING.

YOU START TO SEE IT INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AND YOU LINK IT WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

CONCERN RISES VERY QUICKLY.

>> AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, STUDENTS RESEARCHED FOX POINT HURRICANE BARRIER FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS REAL-WORLD PROBLEM, THEY RECEIVED CREDIT.

THEIR PROFESSOR AT THE TIME WAS MALCOLM SPALDING.

>> THEY STARTED SAYING, HERE IS WHAT SEA LEVEL HAS BEEN AND HERE IS HOW IT HAS CHANGED RECENTLY.

BASED ON THE CLIMATE MODELS, THEY PREDICT THE DIFFERENCE.

>> THEY HAVE A LOW, AND INTERMEDIATE LOW, A HIGH AND AN INTERMEDIATE HI.

AT THE TIME IT PROJECTED THAT BY THE YEAR 2100, LEVELS WILL HAVE RISEN TO 700 FEET.

THIS IS THE STANDARD ADOPTED BY THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL COUNCIL.

>> THE BARRIER WAS DESIGNED IN THE 50'S AND IT GOT BUILT OVER THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

IT TURNS OUT THAT AS THEY OFTEN DO YOU, THEY DESIGNED IT FOR THE ONCE IN 500 YEAR EVENT.

>> THE CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING, A COMMON DESIGN METRIC FOR IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THE THING THAT YOU DESIGNED FOR ONCE IN 500 YEARS LOOKS LIKE ONCE EVERY 100 YEARS.

WHERE DOES IT FAIL?

TAKE A LOOK.

HOW DO THEY DESIGN THIS?

THEY ESSENTIALLY DID THE ONCE IN 500 YEAR EVENT AND ONCE IN 75 YEARS FOR RAINFALL, SO IT IS MUCH LOWER RAINFALL.

THEY ESSENTIALLY, INHERENT TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS THE ASSUMPTION THAT THESE THINGS ARE SEPARATED, SO YOU GET A MAXIMUM SURGE AND A MAXIMUM FRESHWATER INPUT AT THE SAME TIME.

THEN YOU HAVE THE WORST POSSIBLE PROBLEM.

>> THIS IS KNOWN AS A COMPOUND FLOODING EVENT.

IF A LARGE ENOUGH EVENT WERE TO OCCUR, THE BARRIER WOULD FAIL.

HOWEVER, THE STUDY ALSO STATES THAT WITH PROPER MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN PLACE, THE BARRIER IS STILL ABLE TO PROTECT PROVIDENCE FROM RISING SEA LEVELS UNTIL THE END OF THE CENTURY.

GETTING TO THIS LEVEL OF SMOOTH OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE WAS NOT EASY.

NEGLECT BY THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE BEGAN TO CATCH UP, AND IN 1996, A GROUP OF BARRIER STAKEHOLDERS SENT A LETTER TO THE MAYOR, DETAILING THE ISSUES.

MOST NOTABLE WAS THAT FOUR OF THE FIVE PUMPS WERE INOPERABLE.

OTHER ISSUES RANGED FROM CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE, A DETERIORATING ROOF AND CORROSION.

IN 2006, WITH THAT BECOMING APPARENT THAT THE CITY COULD NOT PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE BARRIER, PLANS WERE SET IN MOTION TO HAND OVER CONTROL TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

THE TRANSITION WAS COMPLETE.

QUEST WHEN YOU INHERITED OR TOOK OVER THE BARRIER, WOULD YOU SAY THAT IT WAS IN THE CONDITION THAT IT NEEDED TO BE AND TO PROTECT THE CITY FROM A STORM OR DID IT NEED MORE WORK?

>> THAT DEFINITELY NEEDED MORE WORK.

THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF STRUCTURE WHERE YOU CANNOT DO MAINTENANCE WHEN IT -- ON A FIX IT WHEN IT FAILS POLICY.

QUEST WE GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND HOW THOSE MITIGATION STRATEGIES WERE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE.

QUEST WHEN THIS WAS CAN INSTRUCTED -- CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1960'S, THEY USED MECHANICAL SYSTEMS INSTEAD OF A COMPUTER.

WE LAYS FUSES, CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND CENTAURS -- SENSORS EVERYWHERE TO BALANCE THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY TO BALANCE THE PUMPS.

QUEST BECAUSE MANY OF THE SYSTEMS DO NOT USE MODERN PEWTER'S, OPERATING THE BARRIER IS AS MUCH AN ART AS A SCIENCE.

>> IT IS NOT JUST AN OFF AND ON BUTTON.

THEY USE ALTERNATING CURRENT AND DIRECT CURRENT FOR AN EXCITATION OF THE PUMPS.

THERE IS A LOT TO IT.

OUR ELECTRICIANS ARE BALANCING THE LOAD ON THE THREE-PHASE POWER TO KEEP EVERYTHING SMOOTH.

QUEST ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FEATURES ARE THE FIVE POWERFUL PUMPS.

>> THE SHAFT IS ABOUT 50 FEET LONG.

IT IS 7.5 TONS.

15,000 POUND IMPELLER, 10 FOOT DIAMETER THAT SPENDS AT 150 RPM.

THAT CONFIGURATION GIVES US THAT CAPACITY.

QUEST A SINGLE PUMP -- >> OUTSIDE THE MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE ARE THE THREE GATES.

>> THEY ARE 40 FEET BY 40 FEET AND 55 TONS EACH.

WE ROTATE THEM DOWN AS NEEDED FOR FLOOD CONTROL.

IT IS A FIVE HORSEPOWER MOTOR THAT OPERATES EACH GATE.

EACH ONE HAS A SHAFT THAT CONNECTS ONE SIDE OF THE GATE TO THE OTHER, SO THAT IT GOES DOWN VERY EVENLY.

THIS WAS THE STATE-OF-THE-ART OPERATING GEAR IN THE 1950'S AND 1960'S.

>> IT DOES TAKE A BIT OF TIME FOR THEM TO MOVE.

>> TOTAL CLOSURE TIME IS AROUND 30 MINUTES.

TO RAISE IT, IT IS ABOUT TWO HOURS TO REOPEN.

>> MUCH OF THE CREDIT GOES TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGNERS.

>> THEY GAVE US A LOT OF REALLY GOOD TOOLS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN.

>> WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

>> SHE SAYS THE CITY'S WORKING RELATIONSHIP IS WORKING A LONG WAY TO AVOID THE NEGLIGENCE ISSUES OF THE PAST.

>> WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND WE GO OVER ALL THE DIFFERENT, CURRENT ISSUES, POTENTIAL ISSUES AND WE DO A UPDATE, IF THERE ARE ANY SMALL REPAIRS NEEDED, IF THERE IS ANY ANTICIPATED LONGER-TERM ISSUES ON THE HORIZON.

>> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE COULD BE INVESTMENTS MADE TO ADD PROTECTION ON THE TOP, BUT AT SOME POINT THERE MIGHT BE A SCENARIO WHERE THE CITY OR STATE WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER CONSTRUCTING A NEW BARRIER.

>> THE DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY SIZE A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR ANY FUTURE PLANNING WILL BE KEY.

>> THERE WILL BE A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER LIKE WHERE THE BARRIER SHOULD BE LOCATED.

IT IS PROTECTING DOWNTOWN BUT NOT A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTH PROVIDENCE.

>> AND INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED.

ALTHOUGH IT CAME TO SIMILAR CONCLUSIONS, THIS ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT IT CAN ONLY PROVIDE PROTECTION UNTIL THE END OF ITS DESIGN LIFE.

AT THAT POINT, IT SHOULD BE DECOMMISSIONED.

IN LESS THAN 30 YEARS, A DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE ABOUT A REPLACEMENT.

>> HAVING THIS IN THE FOREFRONT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES, THE GOVERNMENT IS READY TO MAKE SUCH AN INVESTMENT.

>> JOHN MCPHERSON SAYS KEEPING THAT HIGH STANDARD OF OPERATION WILL ENSURE THAT IT WILL SERVE UNTIL THE END OF THE DESIGN LIFE AND PERHAPS FURTHER.

>> IF OTHERS DESIGNED THAT -- DECIDE THAT THERE ARE MODIFICATIONS TO BE MADE, WE ARE HERE AND READY.

♪ >> NEXT, WE VISIT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR CENTURIES.

AS THE POPULATION HAS GROWN, SO HAS THE ISSUE OF WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF OUR TRASH.

FOR MANY YEARS, THE U.S. HAS EXPORTED MANY OF ITS RECYCLABLES, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO CHINA, BUT CHINA BEGAN MAKING DRASTIC CHANGES TO THE ECONOMICS OF RECYCLING THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF ITS NATIONAL SORT POLICY WHICH BANNED THE IMPORTS OF MOST PLASTICS.

MANY COUNTRIES RELIED HEAVILY ON CHINA.

NOW WITH FAR FEWER EXPORT OPTIONS, THE U.S. IS DEALING WITH AN ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW MATERIALS INTO THE PROCESS IS TESTING THE ABILITIES OF THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

DESPITE NEW CHALLENGES, AMERICANS ARE BEING TOLD TO RECYCLE AS NEW LEGISLATION LOOKS TO INCREASE RECYCLED MATERIAL USED BY AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS RATHER THAN EXPORTING.

AS WE FOUND BACK IN NOVEMBER, RHODE ISLAND'S CURRENT RECYCLING SYSTEM IS STRAINING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF CONFUSION AND APATHY.

>> JUST WATCH YOUR STEP FOR THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT ROLL YOUR ANKLE ON.

IT IS A WORKING OPERATION.

IT CAN BE DANGEROUS.

>> AT RHODE ISLAND'S MAIN RECYCLING SYSTEM -- CENTER, HE GAVE US A LOOK AT HOW DANGEROUS THE SORTING PROCESS CAN BE.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE GETTING EYES ON THE MATERIALS.

ANY KIND OF LARGE SCRAP METAL, EVEN THOUGH SCRAP METAL IS NOT IN OUR PROGRAM, WE SEE A LOT OF SCRAP METAL.

>> IT IS NOT JUST SCRAP METALS THAT WREAK HAVOC.

PLASTIC BAGS CONTINUE TO SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN.

IT IS STILL IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE ALL OF THE CONTAMINATION.

>> IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE A PERFECT RECYCLER.

>> CRYSTAL WAS THE OUTREACH MANAGER, BUT SHE HAS SINCE LEFT THAT POSITION.

>> IT IS DESIGNED TO SORT OUT SOME OF THE MISTAKES.

>> WHILE MANY HAD GOOD INTENTIONS, FILLING BENDS WITH CONTAMINATED MATERIALS DEFEATS THE PURPOSE.

>> THE QUALITY OF THAT MATERIAL MATTERS TREMENDOUSLY.

WE CAN ONLY SELL WHAT THE COMPANIES WANT TO BUY.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY CAN PUT ANYTHING IN THERE.

MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE THESE REAL BIG, BIG BINS FOR RECYCLING.

>> VICTOR BELL WAS ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS THAT CREATED THE PROGRAM, BUT HE SAYS THE OPERATION ALMOST NEVER BE END BECAUSE THE MAIN CONCERN BACK THEN WAS CLEANING UP THE STREETS.

>> THEY PASSED THE RECYCLING AND LITTER CONTROL ACT THAT ACTUALLY PUT A TAX ON BEVERAGE CONTAINERS .

>> AT THE TIME HE WAS THE CHIEF.

NOT LONG AFTER THE ACT WAS PASSED, HIS BOSS CAME TO SEE HIM.

>> I SAID, I WILL NOT TAKE THE PROGRAM, UNLESS WE CAN SPEND HALF OF THE FUNDING ON RECYCLING.

THAT WAS THE COMMITMENT I GOT, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE PROGRAM.

WITH THAT, THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND BECAME VERY ADVANCED.

>> IT WAS OPERATED AS A DUAL STREAM SYSTEM.

>> ONE FOR YOUR NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES, THE OTHER FOR YOUR CONTAINERS, YOUR GLASS AND YOUR PLASTIC AND ALUMINUM.

IT WAS PRETTY SIMPLE.

>> IT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND MADE MONEY, BUT THE STATE DECIDED TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE PROGRAM AND PUT IT INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

>> THE YOU AND I ARE STILL PAYING THAT TAX, BUT IT IS NOT GOING BACK TO THE RECYCLING PROGRAM.

>> EVERYTHING GOING INTO ONE INSTEAD OF TWO.

>> THEY FELT LIKE THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF RECYCLING WAS THE COLLECTION AND RUNNING TWO TRUCKS INSTEAD OF ONE TRUCK WAS VERY EXPENSIVE, SO NOW WE MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

>> IT HAS IRONICALLY LOST MONEY AS THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE BEGAN TO COLLAPSE.

THE CHINESE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONSUMERS BEGAN TO LOSE INTEREST.

>> WE PUT A BALE OF PLASTICS ON THE SHIP AND WHEN IT WENT OVER TO CHINA, THEY WOULD ONLY TAKE THE GOOD STUFF AND THROW AWAY THE BAD STUFF.

WE WOULD COUNT THAT AS OUR GOOD RECYCLING, BUT IN REALITY, WE WERE GIVING THEM A LOT OF GARBAGE.

>> RECYCLING IS A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE INEVITABLE.

MATERIAL THAT NEEDS TO BE DISPOSED OF, BUT IT SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT, NOT A FIRST RESORT.

>> HE SERVES AS THE ASSISTANT PROVOST FOR SUSTAINABILITY.

RECYCLING IS THE SECOND STEP IN ACHIEVING HIGHER EFFICIENCY IN THE PROCESS.

>> WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF DISPOSABLE THINGS AND FOCUSING ON RECYCLING.

OUR LANDFILL IS LIKELY TO FILL UP IN THE NEXT DECADE TO DECADE AND A HALF.

IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO SHIP ALL OF OUR WASTE OUT OF STATE.

THAT BEING SAID, OUR RECYCLING OFTEN ENDS UP GOING TO THE LANDFILL ANYWAYS BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY TIME -- MANY TOWNS FACING REJECTION.

>> FEWER CONSUMERS TODAY GO INTO A STORY TO MAKE A PURCHASE.

>> YOU DID NOT GO TO TOYS "R" US.

HE WENT ONLINE.

HOW DID THAT ARRIVE AT YOUR HOUSE?

THE PACKAGING MIX IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT.

>> IT HAS CREATED MASSIVE CHALLENGES FOR FACILITIES.

>> THEY HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB.

WE ARE ASKING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH A PACKAGING STRAIN.

>> SMILED RECYCLING FACILITIES CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE, THEY BELIEVE THAT NEW LEGISLATION NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

>> THERE IS MOMENTUM FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF GUIDELINES TO BE RECYCLED AT A CERTAIN RATE.

THERE ARE PROPOSALS OUT THERE THAT WOULD MIRROR SOME OF THE THINGS IN EUROPE.

>> ECO MODULATION IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS TO PAY MORE.

ALEXANDER SAYS HAVING ONE FEDERALLY STANDARDIZED SYSTEM IN THE U.S. IS UNLIKELY.

>> I DO NOT SEE THAT HAPPENING.

I SEE A HYBRID SYSTEM GOING ON WHERE THEY PUT OUT SOME KIND OF GUIDANCE.

IT WOULD BE A HUGE STEP BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT KIND OF DIRECTION UNTIL NOW.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE HARD AND FAST, REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.

>> IT WOULD ALSO PUT GREATER EMPHASIS ON MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY SPEND BILLIONS EVERY YEAR TELLING THEIR CONSUMERS WHAT THEY WANT.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THEM HOW TO RECYCLE THEIR PRODUCT AND WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING.

>> THE LAWS THAT WERE PUT BACK IN PLACE IN THE 1980'S HAD LITTLE MEANING AND WERE ONLY SYMBOLIC.

>> A LOT OF COMPANIES PUT RECYCLING SIGNS, THE CHOOSING ARROW SYMBOL ON THEIR PACKAGE.

THEY JUST PUT IT THERE.

IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING.

>> THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO ADHERE TO GUIDES THAT DETAIL HOW THAT SYMBOL CAN AND CANNOT BE USED.

>> IN REALITY, IT IS GOING TO CONTAMINATE.

>> CONSUMERS ARE PRETTY MUCH LEFT ON THEIR OWN.

CRYSTAL TOLD US IT IS JUST A CLICK AWAY.

>> THERE IS A LIST.

THE VERY FIRST THING THAT YOU WOULD CLICK A'S WHAT TO RECYCLE.

YOU WILL BE PRESENTED WITH THE VERY BASIC GUIDELINES, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET THE CONCEPT DOWN, LEARNING THE BASIC RULES.

♪ >> OUR THANKS TO JOHN SMITH FOR THOSE REPORTS.

WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY ENGAGED.

WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR CONTINUING SERIES, KIDS WANT TO KNOW.

WHEN KIDS ASKED THE EDITOR AND COFOUNDER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT IT.

>> I AM A SENIOR.

ISSUES LIKE PLASTIC POLLUTION AND STORMWATER RUNOFF THREATEN VIABILITY.

MOVING FORWARD, HOW CAN THE STATE PROTECT COMMIT IN ORDER TO ENSURE BENEFITS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?

>> GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE BAY IS MUCH CLEANER THAN IT WAS.

A LOT OF TIME, EFFORT AND WORK WAS SPENT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT SQUANDER THE FACT THAT IT IS CLEANER.

THE EASIEST THING RHODE ISLAND CAN DO IS TO PASS A BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS AND STRAWS.

CHEMICALS AND NASTY STUFF DO GET INTO THE BAY FROM STORM RUNOFF.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF KEEPING IT OUT OF THE BAY.

WE HAVE TO UPDATE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

CLIMATE CHANGE HAS COME ALONG AND THERE IS MORE HEAVY AND FREQUENT RAINFALLS.

IT TAKES TIME AND IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

WE WANT TO STAY VIGILANT AND KEEP THE BAY CLEAN.

>> MIGHT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

RHODE ISLAND HAS A PLAN TO SWITCH TO RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2030.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY WE ARE PROGRESSING ON THE PLAN?

>> SWITCHING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY IS A MUST.

RHODE ISLAND HAS A PLAN, BUT IT LARGELY IGNORES -- WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILDING THESE PROJECTS ON THE ALREADY BUILT ENVIRONMENT LIKE SOLAR CARDBOARD -- CARPORTS.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE CLEARING GREEN SPACE TO PROVIDE GREEN ENERGY.

OBVIOUSLY, RHODE ISLAND HAS THE FIVE TURBINES, BUT WE HAVE TO DO MORE.

THERE ARE PROJECTS UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST THAT HAVE BEEN HELD UP BY A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROTECTING THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.

THEY HAVE BEEN DELAYED BY THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO SHARE THE SPACE.

MORE OFFSHORE WIND -- WHILE THEY ARE IMPORTANT, WE ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

>> FINALLY, WE CONTINUE THE CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

WE RECOGNIZE TEA REMARKABLE WOMEN WHO BROKE DOWN BARRIERS IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC, LAW AND POLITICS, AND MADE HISTORY IN NEW ENGLAND AND AROUND THE WORLD.

FROM ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]