Newport Resident Advocates for Local Moratorium on New Gas Hookups to Combat Climate Change
A Newport resident, W. Bart Lloyd, is advocating for a moratorium on new gas hookups in the city as a crucial first step to address climate change. Lloyd highlights that while efforts to preserve architectural heritage from rising sea levels are commendable, they primarily address the symptoms of climate change rather than its root cause: the use of fossil fuels. He points out that other countries, including Canada, Europe, Brazil, and Australia, are making significant progress in cutting their carbon footprints. In contrast, a proposal for a moratorium in Newport faced strong opposition at the city council, with one councilor suggesting its outright rejection. Lloyd notes that councilors who merely proposed studying the moratorium issue were unfairly criticized during the recent election season. He emphasizes the need for the city to stop contributing to the causes of climate change, suggesting that weaning off fossil fuels is a difficult but necessary undertaking.
