ASC's Intersections Newsletter — October 2, 2026
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Nora's Note
A New Energy Chapter. Coming out of Climate Week NYC, I’m trading big-picture conversations for a closer look inside the energy industry—steel-toe boots included.
I’m pleased to share that I’ve been accepted into the 2026 Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Energy Executive Program, an immersive executive education experience designed to help small business leaders deepen their industry knowledge, build relationships, and identify opportunities across the global energy supply chain.
WBENC supports the growth of women-owned businesses by connecting them with corporate partners, executive education, and opportunities to compete. This program brings that mission directly into the energy sector.
Over four virtual sessions and three days of hands-on learning in Houston, we’ll explore new energy technologies, upstream and downstream operations, chemicals, and the supply chain that connects them. I’m especially looking forward to speaking directly with energy executives about the challenges they face, and where ASC’s climate team can bring value.
The timing feels right. Climate Week brought fresh conversations about where energy and infrastructure are headed. ASC has spent years helping organizations communicate complex projects and engage the people and communities they affect. This is an opportunity to deepen the industry knowledge behind that work, sharpen our capabilities, and explore where we can contribute next.
I’m looking forward to bringing new perspectives, practical insights, and stronger relationships back to our team—and putting them to work for our clients.
Transportation
A new Hudson River rail tunnel project is underway, the first since 1910. The $16 billion effort is the centerpiece of The Gateway Program, with about $12 billion coming from the federal government and the rest from New Jersey and New York. The first machine will begin digging in mid-October and will bore through the Palisades at roughly 30 feet per day before being swapped for machines suited to the softer sediment under the river. The new tunnels are expected to open in 2035. The old ones, damaged by Hurricane Sandy, can't be repaired until then. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and New York Governor Kathy Hochulpledged to defend the project against any further attempts to pull federal funding, which was briefly disrupted earlier this year before a court ordered it released. Read more about the development here. (Source: Gothamist)
AMNY: City Council distributes free unlimited OMNY cards to first 700 CUNY students under pilot program
Streetsblog: Where the battles against harmful highways and hyperscale data centers collide
Mass Transit: The Bronx receives first busway on Tremont Avenue
Climate
New technologies are helping firefighters respond to wildfires more quickly and safely. Federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service have started using drones to map fires, identify hotspots, and monitor dangerous terrain. Additionally, researchers have now begun to test autonomous ground vehicles and artificial intelligence as potential tools that could help mitigate future wildfires. Read more about how emerging technologies could shape the future of wildfire response. (Source: Inside Climate News)
Grist: Illinois passed the nation’s first climate migration law. The effort has languished since.
Canary Media: Will New York’s 1GW storage contracts finally break the state’s big battery impasse?
Happy Eco News: Beaver restoration in the Colorado wetlands brings two struggling creeks back to life
Economic Development
Mayors across the United States are concerned about affordability in their cities, with a new U.S. Conference of Mayors survey showing that 93% of respondents have said the cost of living in their cities has risen in the past year. Mayors are most concerned about housing costs, with 96% of mayors saying it is a major concern in their city. Read more to learn how cities across the country are addressing affordability in their communities. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
Planetizen: Alabama scores up to $2.5B federal loan for largest infrastructure project in state’s history
The City Reporter: New York is overhauling its unemployment benefits portal
Hoodline: Bed-Stuy corner once vacant for years reborn with apartments, kids’ store
Digital
AI’s rapid expansion was a major theme at this year’s New York Climate Week, highlighting both new opportunities and growing concerns about the energy demands of data centers. Climate-focused startups have increasingly adapted their business models to benefit from investment tied to AI infrastructure, while some advocates worry other climate solutions are receiving less attention. Read moreabout how the AI-driven energy buildout is reshaping climate technology and investment. (Source: TechCrunch)
GovTech: AI can identify, classify, and secure data for states
Route Fifty: When data centers come to town, public works must be at the table
Forbes: What executives need to know about neuro-symbolic planning technology
About Arch Street Communications
At ASC, we help government agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations across the globe communicate issues that affect people’s lives. We’re the bold, nimble, women-owned small business (WBE) that has supported strategic communications programs to build stronger communities for 30 years.
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