ASC's Intersections Newsletter — December 6th, 2024

Nora’s Note

Renewables take center stage. The U.S. achieved several significant milestones in clean energy development in the past year, as the energy transition continues to power more and more of our daily lives and economic development. Renewable sources accounted for 90% of new electricity capacity added in 2024, with increased investment and technological advancements in offshore wind and solar leading the charge. Clean energy jobs also reached record levels, with New York State adding 7,700 new clean energy jobs in 2023 as work continues to meet the State’s ambitious climate goals. Looking ahead to 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy has released its plans to further bolster clean energy through research, development, and deployment initiatives across sectors, prioritizing efficiency, renewables, and grid modernization. We’re excited to see strong momentum in the energy transition as the U.S. continues to innovate and push for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for all. 


Transportation

Broadway to go nearly car-free for more bike space on 2 blocks in the Garment District. The NYC Department of Transportation's Broadway Vision plan will make two blocks of Broadway in the Garment District nearly car-free, creating pedestrian plazas and two-way bike lanes in September of 2026. The redesign includes greenery, public seating, and crash-rated bollards to enhance safety. This aims to transform the area into a premier public space, improving pedestrian access and calming traffic. Read more about shared spaces and the safety of pedestrians. (Source: AMNY) 

  • Gothamist: MTA rolls out first-of-its-kind Metro-North 'holiday train' 

  • The Other Paper: Beta flies first electric plane from South Burlington 

  • The City: MTA considers flying drones to keep watch over buses 


Climate

As climate focus shifts to states, East Coast partnership offers model for multi-state collaboration. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a cap-and-invest program reducing power sector emissions across 11 East Coast states. As a bipartisan model for collaboration, RGGI is exploring stricter post-2030 emissions caps, annual compliance, and allowance adjustments to support ambitious state targets. State leadership remains key to its success in tackling climate change. Read more about the changes considered for this flagship program. (Source: Energy News Network

  • Canary Media: States get $1.2B to build roads, highways with low-carbon materials 

  • Grist: How giant ‘batteries’ in the Earth could slash your electricity bills 

  • Utility Dive: Utility-scale US solar installations to surpass 32 GW for record high in 2024: ACP 


Economic Development

Seattle encourages co-living housing with new law. Seattle has enacted a new law to promote co-living housing. Co-living housing, in which residents have their own private rooms but share communal areas, is one measure to address the housing crisis by increasing supply and affordable options in desirable areas. The Seattle law, motivated by a new Washington state law, allows co-living housing in areas zoned for multifamily housing and removes parking and design restrictions to accommodate these spaces. Read more to learn about Seattle's new legislation. (Source: Smart Cities Dive) 

  • Delaware Online: Delaware nonprofit to award $8K in mini-grants to school boards 

  • Tampa Bay Times: St. Petersburg City Council awards $550,000 in local arts grants 

  • Smart Cities Dive: US office conversions could be up 63% in 2024 as cities remove barriers 


Digital

CISA learning offers cyber training for government staff, veterans and more. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) launched CISA Learning, a free platform offering over 850 hours of cybersecurity training for federal, state, local government staff, veterans, and the public. The training covers topics like cloud security, ethical hacking, and risk management. Users can keep track of their progress and earn certifications, supporting skill development for various expertise levels. Read more on what the program has to offer. (Source: GovTech)

  • Tech Crunch: AWS launches an incident response service to combat cybersecurity threats 

  • Reuters: Amazon to pilot AI-designed material for carbon removal 

  • Forbes: Google reveals new Chrome warning 


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ASC's Intersections Newsletter — December 13th, 2024

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ASC's Intersections Newsletter — November 27th, 2024