Experts say the switch to renewables has more to do with political will and market forces than available technologies.
As it stands, New York state's renewable energy comes 20 percent from hydropower, 2 percent from wind and 2 percent from other sources, constituting a renewable energy capacity equivalent to that of the entire Northeast.
A recent joint Cornell and Stanford University study projects that with sufficient investment in renewables, the state could meet all of its energy needs through hydro, wind, solar biomass and landfill gas power by 2030.
To reach this target, the researchers anticipate that New York would have to supply half of its energy from 12,700 off-shore wind turbines, many of which would have to be built off the coast of Long Island.
Wind energy production faced a downturn with the onset of the economic recession and lower natural gas prices, but since 2004, New York has increased its capacity by more than 1500 megawatts.
Read the full story: Ny renewable energy study finds new york could soon be powered by wind, water and sunlight
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FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
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City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority