Maplewood is leading an effort to aggregate electricity needs of five neighboring communities and negotiate lower rates from renewable energy sources. "Millburn, Maplewood, South Orange, Verona, Glen Ridge...represent 84,000 people,  so we have buying power," says Maplewood Mayor Victor DeLuca. "We believe that we're going to be able to buy cheaper and greener energy through this aggregation."

DeLuca acknowledges that weather patterns and our environment are causing "a bit of a scare," and that citizens need to act collectively. "It has to be a crisis that leads to action," he says. "Everyone's talking about shared services, and this is a perfect way to do it."