Joined on stage by former Vice President Al Gore, Governor Cuomo signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, passed by both houses of the legislature in Albany last month.

"The law requires that 70% of our energy come from renewables by 2030,” Cuomo said. “And 100% carbon free electricity by 2040. By 2050, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an overall 85%."

Gore has been closely identified with the modern environmental movement, and helping to alert the world to the dangers of climate change.

"I mean, I am not going to divert off into telling you yet again how dire the situation is, but it is. And by the way, it's getting worse. But we are gaining momentum," Gore said.

The governor also announced an ambitious renewable energy project. Two wind farms are expected to be built to generate green energy, the first off the coast of Long Island, the second below New York Harbor in the Atlantic Ocean.

The wind turbines are expected to generate enough energy to power a million homes. Construction will begin in 2022 and be completed by 2024.

"In fact, we are going to take greater steps forward today than any state has taken to date,” Cuomo said. “We will lead the way in developing the largest source of offshore wind power in the United States of America."

Environmentalists for years have argued that New York should not build anymore fossil fuel infrastructure because it extends our dependence on fossil fuels. And recently the Cuomo Administration agreed with them, rejecting the Williams pipeline, which was to be built in New York harbor to deliver natural gas to customers on Long Island.