ASC's Intersections Newsletter — January 20
Nora's Note
Honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., ASC participated in our annual day of service for Martin Luther King Jr. Day by donating and volunteering in our communities. Team members in New York devoted their day to working with Backpacks For The Street, an incredible organization working to provide hope and assistance to the homeless in NYC. The team met with Jeffrey Newman, CEO of Backpacks for the Street, and the organization’s volunteers to learn about the origin, mission and accomplishments of the organization. From Jamaica, Queens, to Penn Station, Union Square, and Manhattan’s Lower East Side, we assembled and distributed over 160 backpacks of essential supplies donated by ASC. As homelessness continues to soar in NYC and across the US, programs like Backpacks for the Street are a lifeline for many. While ASC's NYC staff worked with the unhoused, staffers jumped in to clean parks, organize clothing donations and assemble disaster preparedness kits in their communities around the country. We look forward to continuing serve our communities throughout 2023.
Transportation
Biden officials lay out road map for net-zero transportation by 2050. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 27% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, the largest emissions contributor and a key target for decarbonization goals. The new national blueprint for transportation decarbonization lays out the administration’s interagency strategy to achieve carbon neutrality. Policy goals include improving public transportation and walkability, increasing electric vehicle sales, investing in infrastructure research and development and replacing petroleum fleets with zero-emission vehicles. Read more about the timeline and goals for transportation decarbonization. (Source: The Hill)
WSJ: New York City Wants More EVs but Needs to Find Space for Chargers
NPR: Buying an electric car? You can get a $7,500 tax credit, but it won't be easy
Reuters: U.S. says traffic deaths fell slightly in first nine months of 2022
ABC7NY: Donated bicycles refurbished and gifted to migrants in New York City
Energy/Environment
Queens compost program lightens NYC landfills' load by 12 million pounds. A composting program in the Queens borough of New York City collected 12.7 million pounds of organic waste in the first few months since its launch. The program automatically enrolled residents in the program without the need to complete registration forms or use special bins. Composting is one of the most effective means of curbing methane emissions, a significant contributor to global climate change. Read more to learn about how organic waste is processed and the city’s hopes for expanding the program. (Source: Gothamist)
Inside Climate News: The EPA Is Helping School Districts Purchase Clean-Energy School Buses, But Some Districts Have Been Blocked From Participating
CBS News: Earth's ozone layer on track to recover within 40 years, U.N. experts say
Axios: The past 8 years were the world's warmest, report finds
Yahoo News: Geothermal energy poised for boom, as U.S. looks to follow Iceland’s lead
Economic Development
'Green Banks,' Poised for Billions in Climate Funds, Draw States' Attention. 2022 ended with $27 billion in funding for greenhouse gas reduction through Green Banks, piquing state interest in developing similar models. Green Banks, which specialize in funding energy-saving and climate projects, often focus on connecting low- to moderate-income communities with capital to make homes and businesses more energy efficient. More than 20 green banks are currently operating across the US. Read more to learn how green banks are setting a model for energy and climate projects. (Source: Route Fifty)
Gothamist: Mayor Adams unveils plans to turn NYC offices into 20,000 new apartments
Energy Storage News: US’ tax credit incentives for standalone energy storage begin new era
NPR: New Biden student loan plan unveiled
AP News: Feds propose ‘student loan safety net’ alongside forgiveness
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