ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of December 13, 2021
Nora's Note
Working Together, Innovating Forward. This week, ASC virtually attended Innovating Forward, New York State's Annual M/WBE Forum. Members of the ASC Small Business Diversity Team attended, and we grew our network of fellow NY small business owners, state agencies and large prime contractors. Governor Kathy Hochul kicked things off with a promising message for COVID-beleaguered NY small businesses, "We will not have a full comeback until all of our small businesses, particularly our M/WBEs, are successful.” We’re all in!
Transportation
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) aces helicopter and plane flight tests. In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, the aviation sector has begun testing used cooking oil. This new sustainable aviation biofuel (SAF) recently passed its first flight tests and shows promise in reducing emissions and creating a carbon-neutral flight. However, there is still uncertainty about the affordability and effectiveness of SAF in existing engines. Read more about how the SAF works and how it might be used in the future.
NJ.com: Murphy wants all-electric, self-driving transit system in N.J.’s capital city
NY Times: Is an All-Encompassing Mobility App Making a Comeback?
Mass Transit: NYCDOT completes Soundview bus-priority corridors
AmNY: Road congestion returns, but work-from-home leaves downtowns empty
Transport Topics: USDOT Nominees Await Action in Senate
WHYY: Philly to test new tech in bid to stop delivery drivers from parking illegally
Reuters: Jetpacks, flying cars and taxi drones: transport's future is in the skies
Freight Waves: Transportation, warehouse capacity lacking, costs soar in November
Energy/Environment
Black and Latino neighborhoods pay more for energy despite far lower emissions. A new study identifies racial disparities in the availability of energy-efficient homes and the carbon emissions levels being produced by those homes. Carbon emissions in majority-white neighborhoods are higher than those in majority-Latino and majority-Black neighborhoods, despite greater access to energy-efficient homes in white neighborhoods. To correct this disparity, researchers suggest increasing access to solar panels and creating a fund for retrofitting homes in disadvantaged communities. Read more for an in-depth look at the study's results.
Route Fifty: California’s Water Supplies Are in Trouble as Climate Change Worsens Natural Dry Spells
Bloomberg Green: Wildfires in 2021 Spewed CO₂ Equal to Half of EU's Annual Emissions
USA Today: Investigation reveals a stunning shift in the way rain falls in America
Interesting Engineering: A New CO₂ Battery Can Halve the Cost of Solar Energy Storage
Daily Energy Insider: NYISO releases Comprehensive Reliability Plan on the New York State bulk power system
Utility Dive: Wind developer joins $3B transmission project poised to be 'backbone' for Western power markets
CNN: A giant 'black box' will gather all climate data for future civilizations to learn from
Inside Climate News: Nuclear Fusion: Why the Race to Harness the Power of the Sun Just Sped Up
Economic Development
To Combat Climate Change, NYC Needs More Nature-Based Jobs. A recent report published by Just Nature NYC identified a current lack of existing nature-based jobs in New York City and the essential gaps to fill. According to the report, as extreme storms and deadly heat waves occur more frequently, nature-based climate solutions could offer major economic benefits and job creation opportunities. Read more to see how expanding opportunities for nature-based employment can address wage and employment inequity across the City.
NY Times: Bosses and Workers Face N.Y.C.’s New Reality: Get Vaccinated or Else
Pew: Rural Midwives Fill Gap as Hospitals Cut Childbirth Services
Statescoop: Another city cryptocurrency? Austin could be next
The City: New Yorkers Will Get to Vote on Plans to Advance Racial Equity in the City
CNBC: Americans plan robust spending this holiday season, but worry about inflation, supply bottlenecks
CityLab: The Dark Side of 15-Minute Grocery Delivery
NY Post: NYS homeowners eligible for aid from $539M program fueled by COVID funds
Route Fifty: Cloud Boosts Delivery of Government Services During Pandemic, Other Crises
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COVID-19 Recovery Resources
NY Forward: NY State Reopening Updates
NYC Health: NYC Reopening Updates
Empire State Development: NY State Business Pandemic Recovery Initiative
CDC: Official Updates for Coronavirus Disease
SBA: COVID-19 Resources for Small Businesses
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