PROVIDENCE -- In this corner, weighing in with a hunger for 20,000 new jobs, is the Rhode Island economy.
In the opposing corner, weighing in with just over a thousand square miles and 39 communities, is Rhode Island's unique quality of life.
But instead of the bruising battle that these two often-opposing forces would be expected to wage, the main event at the Westin Providence yesterday morning featured about 80 business, political and environmental leaders from across Rhode Island talking about how to grow companies in the state without sacrificing open space and clean air.
The forum's conclusion: It is possible to create new jobs and, at the same time, protect the Ocean State's exceptional natural resources.
"[It's our] responsibility to take action to sustain our environment as well as our economy," said Roger Bibbo, chairman of the Environmental Business Council of New England, one of the sponsors of yesterday's discussion. "A healthy economy can and must promote a healthy environment."
The discussion's other sponsor was Grow Smart Rhode Island, a nonprofit organization focused on preserving Rhode Island's quality of life while growing its economy. It was Grow Smart's first discussion on partnering economic development and the environment, and the event was particularly timely considering Governor Carcieri's stated goal of creating 20,000 new jobs over the next 3 1/2 years.
But while the thought of new jobs might raise fears of industrial pollution and traffic jams, the state is committed to maintaining Rhode Island's quality of living, said Michael McMahon, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, a panelist at yesterday's forum.
There's "no reason why we have to sacrifice environment . . . to get growth," said McMahon.
Not only is the state working to attract and build eco-friendly industries in Rhode Island, it is also trying to make it easier for companies that want to refurbish polluted sites -- federally designated "brownfields" -- to cut through red tape, said McMahon.
The state is actively trying to have the steel turbines for the proposed wind-energy farm off Cape Cod assembled at Quonset Point, said McMahon. In addition, he said he is lobbying a large oil company to test a hydrogen car in the state.
The EDC is also considering the environment when the agency steers away from courting certain industries. While aquaculture seems like a natural for the Ocean State, McMahon said he's opposed to encouraging a fish-farming industry. Large, waste-producing farms would significantly tax the state's natural resources and wouldn't create many well-paying jobs, he said.
"It's not just jobs, it's good jobs" the EDC is pursuing, McMahon said.
The state is looking at ways to cultivate the biopharmaceutical industry, specifically the development of drugs from marine organisms, he said.
The EDC is also talking with the state Department of Environmental Management to streamline permitting so to make it easier for new and existing companies to build new facilities and renovate old ones.
As for environmental regulators, "It's important that we convey . . . that we are non-confrontational," said Jan Reitsma, DEM director. Reitsma and Grover Fugate, executive director of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, joined McMahon on the discussion panel.
Their ideas on the best ways to expand Rhode Island's economy without sacrificing the coastline and farms that make it attractive resonated with many of the developers, engineers and businesspeople present. Several said they appreciated the state's efforts to make doing business in Rhode Island easier.
But the discussion all but lacked what some said is a key component -- state legislators. Although members of the General Assembly were notified of the event, only one -- Rep. Matthew McHugh, D-South Kingstown -- attended. North Kingstown Councilman Robin Porter, saw that as an unfortunate gap, since the General Assembly is the political body that can enact laws that promote economic growth while protecting the environment.
"All of the discussion here relies on getting the message to the General Assembly," said Porter.
