ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of April 4, 2022
Nora's Note
Working Together for a Greener New York. As ASC kicks off Earth Month, we’re excited to see lots of activity toward making our communities cleaner and more resilient. In our home base of New York, the NYS Climate Action Council launched a series of public hearings this week to ensure all New Yorkers have a voice as its Draft Scoping Plan is developed to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Achieving the Act’s ambitious goals for New York—including 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2040—will require collaboration, fresh ideas and input from a diverse range of stakeholders. ASC is proud to support the Council in the execution of eight, in-person public hearings across New York State; learn more about how to attend the hearings on the Council’s website.
Transportation
US transition to electric vehicles would save over 100,000 lives by 2050. The transition to electric vehicles could lead to 110,000 fewer deaths and 2.8 million fewer asthma attacks by 2050—saving $1.2 trillion in public health costs, according to an American Lung Association report, As fossil fuel-related pollution becomes increasingly linked to health issues, which disproportionately impact people of color and low-income communities, a growing number of Americans are calling for the U.S. to phase out fossil fuels. Read more to learn about EV's role in improving health outcomes. (Source: The Guardian)
Gothamist: In Queens, everything is on the table for Hochul’s LaGuardia connection
North Jersey Media Group: Two bills aim to make NJ transportation more accessible for people with disabilities
Mass Transit: President’s FY23 budget requests $21.1 billion for transit, $17.9 billion for rail
Transport Topics: Global Supply Lines Brace for Economic Storm to Widen
AmNY: MTA eyes next batch of subway signal upgrades in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan
CNBC: Why gas prices have soared in America
Metro: MTI Research Explores The Misuse of the 'Equity' Label
Roads & Bridges: Trip Report Says Increased Investment Needed for U.S. Surface Transportation
Energy/Environment
Utilities Hyping Hydrogen’s Promise Risk Hitting ‘Dead Ends’ in Climate Fight. Since 2020, natural gas companies and electric utilities have introduced more than 26 hydrogen blending proposals intended to reduce their carbon footprint. However, recent research shows that in some cases, the practice of mixing cases hydrogen with natural gas can decrease efficiency, leading to higher electricity prices for consumers. Read more to learn other building electrification approaches that experts think may prove more effective in the long-term. (Source: Bloomberg)
E&E News: Climate change roils colleges that train drillers and miners
Energy Monitor: How high power prices present an opportunity for renewables generators
News 10 ABC: Two Capital Region towns certified ‘climate smart’
Utility Dive: BOEM sets May auction for offshore wind leasing in two areas off the Carolinas
Scientific American: Proposed SEC Climate Rules Have Sparked a Fight over Indirect Emissions
NPR: Misinformation is derailing renewable energy projects across the United States
CNN: Wind and solar generated a record 10% of the world's power in 2021
Grist: How 5G could send weather forecasting back to the 1970s
Economic Development
Cities Give Housing Technology a Wary Reappraisal. The lack of access to federal rental assistance for struggling tenants has sparked a conversation around using technology to help tenants apply for and receive aid. Civil rights organizations, like the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), are advocating for increased use of web-based platforms that can help tenants identify relief programs and apply for them quickly, bypassing bureaucratic hurdles. Read more to learn how technology can be leveraged to improve housing equity and affordability. (Source: CityLab)
Route Fifty: Biden’s Budget Calls for Increases in Key State and Local Programs
GovTech: Public Libraries Essential to Closing Digital Divide
Pew Stateside: The Pandemic Prompted People to Move, But Many Didn’t Go Far
NY1: Adams—Remote work 'draining' New York City's economy
Smart Cities Dive: Cities grapple with expected revenue declines as fewer workers commute downtown
Axios: COVID has changed how city governments support businesses
Governing: Public Health Employee Survey Reveals a Workforce Crisis
NY Times: Entrepreneurship Is Alive in N.Y. Public Housing. Will the City Step Up?
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