ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of February 1, 2021
Nora's Note
Searching for equity. Energy and transportation equity are fast becoming calls to action for 2021. To ground myself in the scope of the challenge, I’ve added a couple volumes to my bookshelf to kick off Black History Month, starting with “The Energy within Us,” charting the careers of five African American women at the top of the US energy industry. The challenges Joyce Hayes Giles, Carolyn Green, Telisa Toliver, Rose McKinney-James and Hilda Pinnix-Ragland faced and the barriers they broke are inspiring change in how my team addresses the equity issue in our public engagement work—take this one-minute survey to tell us the issues that concern you in answering the equity call.
Coming This Friday!
Did you miss the webinar, “How to Maximize Your Virtual Engagement," with CEOs Nora Madonick (ASC) and Rebecca Karp (Karp Strategies)?
ASC and Karp Strategies will present a new, expanded toolkit at a webinar on February 5 at 12:30 PM, hosted by WTS-Greater New York. Register now and join us to:
Learn to use new technology for equitable engagement
Get expert advice on the best virtual tools on the market
Take away guidance from real-world scenarios
We'll showcase our Toolkit for Virtual Engagement—80+ curated tools reviewed specifically for public engagement. Download at ascRemote to find strategies that meet audiences where they are to advance the civic planning projects and initiatives that will speed recovery.
Transportation
Electric Cars Are Coming, and Fast. Is the Nation’s Grid Up to It? As major automakers increase their electric vehicle (EV) options in the move toward larger electrification goals, utilities are getting ready for surges in electricity demand. Analysts say careful planning is needed to handle the incoming strain on the nation’s grid. Add the need to upgrade transmission and add EV stations in "charging deserts" that challenge EV adoption in low-income communities, and you'll want to read on to learn more about the obstacles and opportunities ahead on the path to reducing transportation-related emissions.
FHWA Public Roads: Improving Bridge Preservation With UHPC
Gothamist: The Brooklyn Bridge Will Finally Get Its Own Bike Lane
Stateline: Without a Ride, Many in Need Have No Shot at COVID-19 Vaccine
Transportation Today: MTA awarded nearly $20M to upgrade nine Metro-North rail grade crossings
Statescoop: US Ignite funds tech to reduce railway crossing congestion in Ohio
Smart Cities Dive: How much federal funding will each state DOT receive?
QNS: Transportation Alternatives poll finds majority of motorists favor street safety improvements
Philadelphia Inquirer: Philly transportation needs a universal way to measure racial equity
Energy/Environment
64% think climate change is a global emergency. Last week, the United Nations Development Programme released the results of the People’s Climate Vote—revealing the climate-related opinions of nearly 1.2 million people. Teens and young adults were more likely than those over 60 to call climate change a global emergency. Residents of high-emission countries, including Australia and the US, were most likely to support renewable energy policies. Released in 50 countries and 17 languages, the survey used ads in mobile game apps to recruit respondents who are often difficult to reach with traditional polling methods. Read on for more on global attitudes on climate solutions.
The Conversation: To make less-harmful road salts, we’re studying natural antifreezes produced by fish
Scientific American: The Real Cost of Planting Trees
CNBC: How the world’s buildings are changing
Recharge: Wind farm eagle deaths 'cut by 82%' as smart cameras spot birds then halt turbines
NY Times: Two Biden Priorities, Climate and Inequality, Meet on Black-Owned Farms
Greentech Media: The Race Is On for Commercial Deployment of Solar in Open Seas
Inside Climate News: Global Ice Loss on Pace to Drive Worst-Case Sea Level Rise
Smart Cities Dive: New Jersey turns to AI to safeguard water quality
Economic Development
How Syracuse, N.Y., Built a Foundation for Innovation. In 2020, Smart City to Watch Syracuse installed 17,500 new LED streetlights to improve service through new technology. The City expects to save over $3 million per year with the new lights, plus they are equipped with LoRaWAN (low-power wide-area network) technology for future smart grid capabilities, like collecting weather data to optimize how snowplows are deployed. Syracuse, like many other cities, also plans to close its broadband access gap by adding more public wi-fi hubs. Read on to learn more about innovation in this smart city.
Buffalo News: NYPA awards low-cost hydropower for four economic development projects
Bloomberg CityLab: The 5 Cities Ready to Build With Remote Workers in Mind
NextCity: How Cities Are Reimagining Our Local Economies
Spectrum News: The State of Black Businesses in the Pandemic
Route Fifty: Covid Caused Cities to Rework Rules for Restaurants. Which Changes Will Stick?
NBC News: Small-business owners welcome Biden's order to 'Buy American'
Building Facilities: Plug Power Inc. To Build New Innovation Center In New York State
NJBIZ: NJEDA, Philly Fed project aimed at propping up minority-owned businesses
Get in touch to learn how our signature approach can work for you.
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