RI Delegation Announces $31.9 Million to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Construction Projects

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced a new $31,933,577 Low-Carbon Transportation Materials grant for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to allow the State to incorporate low-carbon transportation materials in construction projects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The building and construction sector is the largest contributor of global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 37 percent of annual emissions.

RIDOT will use the funding to identify, test, and develop a list of low-carbon transportation materials for use in construction projects to help the state meet its emissions reduction goals.

"We must continue to modernize our transportation infrastructure to make it stronger and more resilient. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, RIDOT can harness this funding to make new construction projects greener, cleaner, and more durable using state of the art low-carbon materials," said Reed.

"This is another smart investment in Rhode Island's climate and economic future from Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act," said Whitehouse, who advocated for this funding in the Inflation Reduction Act as a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. "As the Ocean State continues to combat the climate crisis created by the fossil fuel industry, this federal funding will help tackle a major emissions source by giving RIDOT more resources to integrate low-carbon transportation materials into construction projects."Whitehouse has long pursued expanding the use of innovative construction materials in infrastructure projects.

"Every Rhode Islander deserves a healthy environment, and that means doing our part to reduce harmful pollution," said Magaziner. "This federal funding will help lower emissions from construction projects and help our state meet its emission reduction goals."

"Reducing the construction sector's carbon footprint is a top priority for our delegation as we work to address the climate crisis and meet our emissions goals," said Amo. "By helping RIDOT invest in cleaner, low-carbon transportation materials, this federal funding will ensure that Rhode Island remains a leader in the transition to a greener, more resilient economy."

"This grant paves the way for cleaner, greener infrastructure projects that will support both Rhode Island residents and our environment," said Governor Dan McKee. "Once again, our Congressional Delegation is delivering for Rhode Islanders, helping us work toward our state's Act on Climate goals and creating a more sustainable future in Rhode Island."

"This program will allow RIDOT to continue and enhance its use of RIDOT low-carbon materials in our transportation infrastructure projects," said Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Peter Alviti, Jr. "Specifically this grant means we can incorporate these materials in more than 60 projects across Rhode Island to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

The Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration and was created through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Senators Reed and Whitehouse helped pass. The grant program made $2 billion available to fund low-carbon materials that create less pollution by reducing the levels of embodied greenhouse gas emissions.