In an effort to minimize U.S. dependence on foreign oil and curb greenhouse gas emissions, congressional representatives met Monday to discuss plans to turn Long Island into the next green community.

According to Long Island Business News, the event, sponsored by the Long Island Association, brought together about 100 business community members with U.S. Reps. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, Carolyn McCarthy, D-Garden City, and Steve Israel, D-Huntington who were all eager to discuss plans now that everyone is on the same page about alternative energy.

Several ideas were offered by the representatives including turning the Long Island Expressway into the first alternative fuel corridor in the region, retrofitting school buildings to be more energy efficient, smart metering by the Long Island Power Authority and redeploying United States Postal Service workers with battery operated vehicles as ways to reduce dependence on foreign oil.