ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of February 28,2022
Nora's Note
Building a Pathway to Equity. New York State is creating a new on-ramp to clean energy jobs for underserved New Yorkers with a workforce development proposal that will create opportunities for thousands of New Yorkers and help advance a stronger, cleaner, more inclusive economy. With federal funding from the Good Jobs Challenge, the New York Community Colleges Energy Equity (NYCCEE) consortium of 24 colleges and dozens of employers, unions, training providers and faith-based organizations will team to close disparities and deliver skills training and job placement for 3,500+ workers. Employer demand for clean energy workers is projected to skyrocket by thousands; NYCCEE will help ensure equitable opportunities in the shift to sustainability. ASC is excited to continue supporting the development of NYCCEE toward a sustainable, equitable future for New York.
Transportation
Reuters: U.S. driving soars in 2021 to 3.23 trillion miles, up 11.2%. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported an 11.2% increase in road travel in December 2021, compared to December 2020. December's boost in U.S. driving levels reflects the second straight month that driving has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. As COVID-19 restrictions continue to subside and more Americans find themselves back in the office, officials expect these driving trends to continue. Read more for an overview of how the pandemic has impacted travel patterns in the U.S.
Gothamist: MTA struggles to get OMNY cards in stores
AmNY: MTA sets June date for Bronx bus redesign rollout
Route Fifty: Accelerating the Shape of Auto Pollution Rules
Buffalo News: Greenway trail comes closer to fruition, but City of Niagara Falls needs to play a role
Philly Voice: Five new electric yellow buses unveiled at the School District of Philadelphia's garage
Smart Cities Dive: Rail transit vulnerable to cyberattacks, experts say
Transportation Today: New Jersey awards $5.9M in Bikeway Grants
CNBC: Airbus plans to test hydrogen engine on A380 jumbo jet to fly in 2026
Energy/Environment
NY Times: Sale of Leases for Wind Farms Off New York Raises More Than $4 Billion. In last week’s record-setting New York Bight auction, the United States sold six leases for offshore wind on more than 480,000 acres of the Atlantic Ocean between New York and New Jersey. Once turbines across the six leases are functional, the combined projects are expected to produce about 7,000 megawatts of electricity—enough to power nearly 2 million homes and in line with both New York and New Jersey goals for offshore wind deployment. Read more to learn about the next steps for offshore wind development in the region.
CityLab: NYC’s Big Clean Energy Plan Is Under Attack From One-Time Advocate
Rochester First: Tackling climate change can help NY’s rural economy
E&E News: White House releases EJ mapping tool amid rising scrutiny
The Guardian: Antarctic sea ice falls to lowest level since measurements began in 1979
Pew Stateline: A Parched West Remains Divided on Desalinating Seawater
Utility Dive: Utility regulators eye new tools to ensure equity efforts don't impinge on other policy goals
NBC News: Chicago denies permit for scrapyard at heart of 'environmental injustice' battle
Washington Post: A year after Texas cold spell, study shows renewable energy could help prevent blackouts
Economic Development
CNN: A whole group of Americans is being overlooked by employers. According to a study released last week by the RAND Corporation, more than half of all 30-year-old unemployed American men have been arrested or criminally convicted at some point in their lifetime. In the midst of the current labor shortage in the U.S., advocacy groups are calling on businesses to relax their policy on hiring based on criminal history. Read more to learn about the economic impacts of barring workers with criminal histories from the labor force.
Long Island Business News: NYS plans $200M shovel-ready grant program
AP News: Granholm announces $3M for net-zero carbon research at HBCUs
NY Times: Online Sports Betting’s N.Y. Debut—$2.4 Billion in Wagers in 5 Weeks
CityLab: A Garden City Gets Serious About Growth
Forbes: New York City Mayor Eric Adams Calls For Companies To Quickly Bring Workers Back To The Office
Time: Another U.S. Inflation Gauge Is Heading Even Higher
Route Fifty: A Looming Threat for City Budgets
Binghamton Homepage: Endicott seeks input on DRI funding
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