{"id":15895,"date":"2017-07-06T12:48:27","date_gmt":"2017-07-06T16:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=15895"},"modified":"2017-07-06T12:49:04","modified_gmt":"2017-07-06T16:49:04","slug":"how-energy-week-could-learn-from-state-clean-energy-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2017\/07\/06\/how-energy-week-could-learn-from-state-clean-energy-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"How \u2018Energy Week\u2019 could learn from state clean energy leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"President Trump\u2019s administration dubbed last week \u201cEnergy Week<\/a>,\u201d including a theme of \u201cenergy dominance.\u201d Instead of exploring America\u2019s clean energy potential, we\u2019re waiting for the July release of a report by the U.S. Department of Energy<\/a> (DOE) examining whether the early retirement of power plants and impact on grid reliability can be blamed on requiring coal plants to reduce pollution while incentivizing clean energy sources. Taken together, and with the fact that the president pulled the country out of the Paris Agreement<\/a>, America\u2019s energy agenda gives me pause and cause to worry.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t yet know what the DOE report is going to say, but judging from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry\u2019s past stance on energy and his latest statements on the matter<\/a>, it could suggest that the coal industry that has long-been economically uncompetitive due to oversupplied, cheap natural gas<\/a>, could be propped-up to spew toxic emissions into the future.<\/p>\n

Here is the reality: climate change is not a political issue; it is the single greatest threat we face as a generation. Clean energy is our best option to prevent the environmental situation from getting worse because it is at the core of every climate issue. Fortunately, Americans agree<\/a> on this, and know something must be done.<\/p>\n

New York is one example of how Americans and their businesses can \u201cdominate\u201d on their own and help determine the nation\u2019s clean energy future. Moreover, their united effort reflects American spirit and innovation \u2013 not just during an \u201cenergy week,\u201d but every day.<\/p>\n

[Tweet “How \u2018Energy Week\u2019 could learn from state clean energy leaders”]<\/p>\n

In the years since Hurricane Sandy, New York State and New York City have each committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 while increasing clean energy and energy efficiency in buildings.<\/p>\n

And, most importantly, New York backs-up its commitments by allocating funds toward programs, incentives, and projects to accelerate the transition to renewables where it is needed most:<\/p>\n