Color LI’s Future Economy Green

The editorial “The Road Ahead” [May 17] is spot-on. At a moment when we must make large-scale investments to restart our economy, we should take action on climate at a scale that science demands. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put ourselves on the path to a low-carbon future while creating new quality careers that provide family-sustaining wages and benefits for communities across the state. From energy efficiency upgrades to solar retrofits on schools, smart green projects can put people back to work fast, stabilize energy costs, and have a real impact on emissions.

As for Long Island’s long-term sustainability, offshore wind projects offer significant economic development by creating a skilled green-economy workforce and establishing a footprint for a consequential new industry. We can combat climate change and help meet the state’s goal of 70 percent electricity from renewable energy by 2030, all while creating good jobs with labor standards.

In this time of bold transformation, smart investments in a clean-energy future can simultaneously put people back to work, build infrastructure to address climate change, and spur economic development in our communities. The economy of the future is the green economy.

Mariah Dignan, Long Island organizer for Climate Jobs NY.

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