Northeastern states are making big strides in energy efficiency and renewable energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Connecticut and Massachusetts are two of the top 10 states leading solar energy development, and Maine is fourth in the U.S. for electricity generation from non-hydro renewable energy resources. New York ranks seventh in the country in wind power production, producing enough megawatts to power 320,000 homes, and both Rhode Island and Massachusetts continue to take steps toward developing the nation’s first offshore wind farms.

"The sky's the limit in 2010," says Larry Chretien, executive director of Mass Energy, a nonprofit advocating for more sustainable and affordable energy sources. "We've seen a lot more participation in various programs to improve energy efficiency, states are willingly seeking out alternative energy, and the money is really flowing into the industry to the benefit of consumers."

The growth in green energy programs and opportunities stems from a combination of state incentives, policy initiatives, and the federal stimulus package. (More than $30 billion was allocated to strengthen energy efficiency efforts and increase investment in renewable energy technology and production.) All play a role in making more money available in 2010 to support energy changes, including increased funding for utilities' energy efficiency programs.

Lawmakers in almost every northeastern state have mandated a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requiring electricity providers to obtain a minimum percentage of their power from renewable energy resources by a certain date. Maine's RPS is the most aggressive of any state in the country — aiming to reach 40 percent by 2017. While there is no national RPS mandate at present, 29 states and Washington, D.C., have opted to set their own standards. Some states have also enacted mandatory green power purchasing, requiring utility companies to provide consumers the option to purchase renewable energy. Massachusetts passed the Green Communities Act in 2008, a comprehensive energy reform bill including requirements that electric companies enter into 10-15-year contracts with renewable energy developers and invest in all available energy efficiency improvements that cost less than it does to generate power.

Changes from the top also mean more options for consumers. "If you're looking for ways to save energy, there's a program for it," Chretien says. "Now is a great time to do something."

Growing concern about climate change has increased interest in renewable energy. Wind and solar energy are the fastest growing sources of electric power generation in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Almost all utilities now offer energy efficiency programs (including home and business energy audits, efficiency rebates, and incentives for renewable energy) and green power options. (The Green Power Network provides a good source for finding out availability per state at http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml.) Mass Energy works with National Grid in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to offer a bundled renewable electricity program, purchasing enough renewable energy certificates to match its customers' electricity consumption. The program adds around $10 per month to each utility bill and has more than 8,000 participants. In Maine, consumers can purchase Maine Wind Watts from Maine Interfaith Power and Light to help offset the polluting effects of personal energy use and support wind development at Mars Hill Wind Farm.

President Nick d'Arbeloff of the New England Clean Energy Council, which advocates for accelerating New England's green energy economy, is a participant in Massachusetts' NSTAR wind energy program and a firm supporter. "These programs are absolutely brilliant," he says. "If everyone opted for clean energy, wind farms would pop up all over and fossil fuel plants would go hungry. It's a hugely important thing for our country to do collectively."

When considering a renewable energy program, consumers should do their homework on the source of this energy. "All emerging green energy sources have an impact on the natural world," says AMC Research Director Ken Kimball. "It's important to strike a balance between the energy benefits and environmental effects and seek out locations for new energies with the least amount of ecological and recreational impact."