According to a 2015 report of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Boston and New York top the list for most energy-efficient US cities. Out of a 100, Boston scored an 82, while New York came in second with a score of 78.

Not only are the two cities are leading the way in energy efficiency, they are also at the forefront of revolutionizing sourcing of energy from conventional sources like coal and natural gas to clean and renewable sources like wind and solar power.

What makes Boston the top player

Boston had been ranked most energy-efficient US city earlier in 2013 too and has only been increasing its efforts toward green energy development. In 2016, the state of Massachusetts passed a bill, House Bill #4568 “An Act Relative to Energy Diversity”, that boosted the state’s image as the flag bearer of renewable and clean energy adoption. According to supporters, the state had grown to be too dependent on natural gas for energy, and the bill is a way to decrease this dependency. It will also create more jobs in the clean energy industry.

While opponents argue that electricity costs will rise, there is no denying that the bill will definitely have positive consequences. It is an investment for a clean and sustainable development.

More about the bill

The bill makes it mandatory for every energy distribution company to sign a long-term contract to provide wind energy of 1,600 megawatts by June 30, 2027. It also requires all distribution companies to solicit proposals for offshore wind energy generation by June 30, 2017, so as to diversify the state’s energy supply. This was seen to completion with an energy bill that was passed 39-0 by the Senate earlier this year.

Similarly, energy distribution companies should enter into contracts to provide an additional 1,200 megawatts of clean energy generation by 2017. This can be achieved by solar, hydropower, on-shore wind farms, or other renewable sources of energy.

Even though a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) already exists in the state of Massachusetts, the new bill passed by the legislature has increased the percentage of power that has to be sourced from renewable and clean sources by energy providers. Currently, the RPS stands at 15 percent by 2020. This means that energy providing companies have to source 15 percent of their energy from only renewable sources by 2020.

The bill also aims to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035 as well as an economy-wide 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. This includes electricity, transportation, heating and other sectors. Supporters of the bill said they are determined their goal will definitely help combat climate change and will help Massachusetts make history by making it the first state to commit to an economy that is powered by 100 percent clean and renewable energy.

With such a revolutionary legislation, it is estimated that the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions will be equivalent to the removal of more than 73,000 cars from the road.

How New York is catching up

In January 2017, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that 11 large renewable energy projects would be receiving subsidies worth $360 million in total, double the value they generate. This is the same as handing out $24.24 per mWh (megawatt hour) to the 11 projects for the next 20 years. On top of this, wind turbines were allowed to receive an extra $23 per mWh in federal tax credits.

This was a huge step taken by the state, paving the way for further development of renewable sources of energy. Especially with rising concerns about climate change and the federal government’s stance on the same, it seemed Governor Cuomo had made a decision that would later prove to roll in more legislation that would benefit the renewable energy sector greatly.

Under the Clean Energy Standard, New York has a high goal of sourcing 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. As of now, that number stands at 26 percent. The state aims to achieve this ambitious goal by making use of Zero Emission Credits (ZECs) and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).

From January 1, 2017, it was made mandatory for load-serving entities (LSEs), including energy Serving Companies (ESCOs) and utility companies, to match a pre-determined percentage of their load with Tier 1 RECs in compliance with the Renewable Energy Standard. From April 1, 2017, they were also expected to purchase ZECs to subsidize the upstate nuclear power plants. The amount spent on the ZECs and RECs will then be socialized across the customer base of each LSE, thereby increasing costs of electricity supply for end-users. The percentage of renewable energy will also increase every year till 2030.

State aids nuclear energy

In a significant move toward achieving the 2030 goal, The New York State Public Service Commission, in agreement to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plan to subsidize renewable energy, recently approved a whopping $7.6 billion support as subsidiary to struggling nuclear power plants in upstate New York. While opponents argue that nuclear energy is not a renewable energy, supporters maintain that nuclear plants do not emit any kind of harmful greenhouse gases. The state also argues that the subsidies provided to nuclear plants are not simply handouts, but rather an investment toward attainment of a clean power source that is carbon-free.

New York’s interest in increasing reliance on renewable energy is not something new. Forbes reported that back in 2013, solar power and wind power received respectively 326 times and 69 times more subsidies than oil, coal or natural gas. In the same year, $13 billion was given as subsidy for renewable energy, compared to $3.4 billion set aside for conventional sources of energy according to data collected by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

As seen, the two cities have spearheaded the energy revolution in the US. Not only does adoption of renewable energy has environmental benefits, it also contributes toward economic growth as the industry is labor-intensive. Hopefully, more states will follow in their footsteps.