The General Assembly earned a B and Governor Carcieri got mixed grades in 2005-06, on a “green report card” recently issued by the Environmental Council of Rhode Island, an umbrella organization of 63 environmental, civic and community groups.

The Assembly grades have improved markedly since 1991, when the organization awarded it an F on its first report card.

“Overall, the grade of B is a positive grade for the General Assembly and reflects a lot of accomplishments,” Matt Auten said in an interview last week. Auten is president of the council and an advocate for Environment Rhode Island, a newly formed organization.

The legislature was praised for passing seven bills on high-priority issues, including a ban on toxic MTBE in gasoline, a bill to prevent mercury pollution from cars and a ban on disposal of electronic waste.

However, the Assembly was criticized for approving some measures — including staff cuts at the Department of Environmental Management — and rejecting others, including a bill to remove cesspools near public waterways.

The group commended the governor for implementing strict auto emission standards and signing legislation that promotes renewable energy and energy conservation.

But it criticized Carcieri for refusing to join eight other states in a pledge to reduce greenhouse gases, and on other issues. “Without a doubt, he’s a champion and has done great things,” Auten said. “And at times, there have been disappointments.”

The governor’s spokesman, Jeff Neal, said there are instances where the report card didn’t tell the whole story or got the facts wrong. Neal said the governor proposed several environmental initiatives that were rejected by the General Assembly.

Carcieri declined to join the greenhouse pledge because he lacked information on how it would affect energy prices in Rhode Island, Neil said

The report graded each member of the General Assembly on 19 environment-related bills. Most legislators got good marks, with 74 rated B or higher. Among the rest, 36 legislators got a C or lower and 3 legislators were not graded.

Several legislators also received praise for their environmental work and were put on a “green honor roll” or got “energy stars” for helping to pass the Clean Energy Act, which will require Rhode Island to use 20 percent renewable energy by 2010.

To get a copy of the report, contact the Environment Council of Rhode Island at (401) 621-8048 or e-mail environment

council@earthlink.net.

Michelle J. Lee is a fellow with the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting Institute.