ASC's Intersections Newsletter — March 22nd, 2024
Nora's Note
It’s all connected. This week we recognize World Water Day, a reminder of the vital resources our lakes, rivers, oceans, streams, and ponds are to both humans and wildlife. As the effects of climate change continue to take hold in our communities, access to clean, fresh water is essential to keeping people and the planet healthy, and efforts to reduce emissions and protect our shorelines go hand in hand with water security. From the transition to renewable energy sources, to coastal resiliency projects, to environmental cleanups, ASC is proud to contribute to projects which protect waterways, waterfront communities, and access to clean water for all. This World Water Day and beyond, let’s keep working together to protect our waters and secure a more prosperous future for our communities, our economies, and our planet.
Transportation
Representatives DelBene, Moulton introduce legislation to invest in national high-speed rail. U.S. high-speed rail could gain significant momentum from the American High Speed Rail Act introduced in Congress on March 8 by Representatives Seth Moulton (MA – 06) and Suzan Delbene (WA -01). The bill, which has 25 co-sponsors, proposes a federal investment of $205 billion and is expected to generate a minimum of 2.6 million jobs. Read more for more on efficient transportation options and outcomes generated by similar legislation. (Source: Lynwood Times)
The Daily Yonder: Popular in Cities, Transit Trip Planning and Payment Apps Are Slowly Coming to Rural Communities
Streets Blog NYC: Legislators Propose More Bus Service, Transit Discounts In State Budget Negotiations
The Hill: Biden administration wants to put electric truck chargers in high-traffic ‘corridors’ under new plan
Climate
You can start applying for the American Climate Corps next month. The White House is about to make it easier than ever for young people to take their spot in the energy transition. Echoing FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps, an innovative program that built trails at national parks, the American Climate Corps will offer opportunities in a number of much-needed and rapidly growing fields including energy-efficiency installations, disaster response preparedness, recycling, and wildfire mitigation. Read more on the launch of the American Climate Corps. (Source: Grist)
Associated Press: Pennsylvania governor unveils plan to cut greenhouse gases, boost renewables in big energy producer
WRAL: NC emerges as global hub for clean energy, boosting battery and EV manufacturing
Utility Dive: New York City bill would mandate solar panels on public buildings
Economic Development
Biden proposes ‘historic new program’ to address childcare shortages. The recently released budget for fiscal year 2025 includes a $500 million increase in Childcare and Development Block Grant funding to help states lower the costs of childcare for low-income families and raise childcare provider wages as 70,000 programs are in danger of closing. The budget also accounts for households making up to $200,000 to pay for childcare, reducing costs to $10/day, while low-income families would receive free childcare. Read more on how children and families will benefit from this program. (Source: Route Fifty)
Solar Power World: Massachusetts clean energy jobs increased by 80% since 2010
South Dakota Searchlight: State board approves $3.7 million in loans to businesses
Route Fifty: $3.3B in federal grants announced for communities split apart by highways
Digital
The road map to AI's next level could be nature. As the race towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) intensifies, the interaction between humans and AI becomes increasingly important. In a recent experiment conducted by Verses, participants conversed with ChatGPT, aiming to compose poetry together. The results shed light on both the limitations of many AI training models and human-AI collaboration in creative endeavors, highlighting the potential in basing AI learning on the way organisms interact in wild ecosystems. Read more about the implications and insights gleaned from this experiment and others. (Source: Axios)
Route Fifty: 17 million cyberattacks a day: How Oklahoma stops 99% of them
GovTech: Where to Start with AI? Cities and States Offer Use Cases
Oregon Capital Chronicle: 42 states push feds for greater online privacy protections for children
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