ASC's Intersections Newsletter — September 5th, 2025
Nora’s Note
The more people involved, the better the outcome. A robust schedule of 10 public hearings on the Draft State Energy Plan (SEP) kicked off, with a first virtual hearing, as well as in-person sessions in Buffalo and Rochester, where hundreds of New Yorkers came to listen and share their priorities for a more resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy future. The ASC team is proud to support the New York State Energy Board in facilitating the hearings to help ensure diverse voices, from urban neighborhoods to rural communities, are heard. Seeing residents turn out and raise critical questions about jobs, affordability, public health, and climate resilience reminds us why this work matters. The calendar ahead includes two more virtual hearings, and in-person meetings in Albany, Poughkeepsie, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Long Island. Comments can also be submitted in writing, and the draft plan is available online.
Transportation
In Los Angeles, the City Council Planning and Land Use (PLUM) management committee approved a parking reform motion to streamline new housing production. The motion establishes that city departments study the costs and benefits on eliminating parking requirements for new developments. The measure now heads to the full council, which will review department findings if it passes. Following that, the city council can direct staff to propose changes which would need further approval. This motion reflects a nationwide trend regarding parking reform. Read more about how parking reform could reshape housing policy in Los Angeles. (Source: Streetsblog)
Gothamist: NYC gives self-driving taxi firm Waymo the green light on pilot program
AMNY: Feds vow to deliver a ‘world-class’ Penn Station as part of the Midtown hub’s makeover, to being in 2027
Mass Transit Magazine: City of Honolulu to bring transit-oriented community to future Mokauea Skyline Station
Climate
The U.S. solar industry is expanding, but not evenly. A massive new solar factory in Texas highlights how private investment is accelerating in red states, while blue states lag. Federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act have played a key role, though state politics still shape outcomes. State energy profiles, which detail a state’s energy usage and needs, further the notion that clean energy futures are shaped more on a state-level. Learn more about this geographic divide, and what it means for climate policy and energy jobs across the country. (Source: Inside Climate News)
Canary Media: Google’s new plan to keep its data centers from stressing the grid
Happy Eco News: Revolutionary textile recycling technology transforms fashion industry waste into high-quality fibers
ScienceDaily: A tiny chip may have solved one of clean energy’s biggest problems
Economic Development
A $500M revitalization plan for Mastic Beach is moving to public hearings. Last week, the Town of Brookhaven kicked off a series of public hearings about the planned Neighborhood Road Development Project. If advanced, the Suffolk County community would see 630 new homes, up to 130,000 square feet of commercial space, and utility updates. Read more to learn how the project would support the area following the 2017 dissolution of the Village of Mastic Beach. (Source: News 12 Long Island)
Smart Cities Dive: Oregon moves toward state-level zoning in push for ‘missing middle’ housing
Multi-Housing News: Policy meets impact in NYC: turning vacant offices into vital housing
Chalkbeat: Thousands of new NYC teachers set to begin amid class size hiring push
Digital
Advanced geothermal innovations are turning subterranean heat into consistent clean power. Startups like Fervo and others are tapping 520 °F rock nearly 16,000 feet deep and have secured major financing and turbine partnerships to generate 300 MW of continuous energy. These breakthroughs could offer reliable baseload electricity, especially for data centers and sprawling grids. Read more about these next‑generation geothermal systems in action. (Source: TechCrunch)
GovTech: Kean University to offer New Jersey’s first bachelor's degree in AI
Route Fifty: California city leverages AI to spur local economic, workforce development
Tribal Business News: Cherokee Nation enacts AI policy to balance innovation with cultural protection
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