Federal tech hubs in NY boost semiconductor and battery research; states push for clean energy initiatives.

The White House has designated two parts of upstate New York as federal “tech hubs” and has encouraged collaboration between Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse to promote semiconductor research and battery manufacturing. New York City will require every city-owned vehicle to be zero-emission by 2038 and make ride-share vehicles electric or wheelchair accessible by 2030. Pennsylvania’s electric vehicle registrations surged 82% from 2021 to 2022, resulting in nearly 43,000 new cars on the road. The Rhode Island National Guard has reported cutting its energy bills by $100,000 since installing a rooftop solar array a year ago. New Jersey’s economic development authority partnered with the New Jersey Institute of Technology to create two offshore wind graduate certificate programs. Vermont lawmakers plan to consider legislation to establish a state climate fund for disaster mitigation.