Scale up renewables

By 2030, the tri-state region should be producing half of all its electricity from renewable, clean power sources such as solar and offshore wind to keep us on a path to sustainability. While rooftop solar panels are increasingly popular, large-scale solar and offshore wind projects remain largely conceptual. States and energy companies should take aggressive steps to make the region both a leading user and supplier of renewable energy. The region can sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions by expanding state renewable portfolio standards, restructuring energy markets to factor in renewables, planning for land use and economic development opportunities and using the purchasing power of large cities.