Energy

B.C. Carbon Tax Kicks In

British Columbia's carbon tax went into action this week, raising the price of fossil fuels by just over two cents. Despite some tax concessions in other areas, many drivers remain opposed to the carbon tax.

July 2, 2008 - The Globe & Mail

Oil and Coal Will Continue To Be Energy Mainstays

Unless international carbon-capping treaties are implemented, fossil fuel consumption (with their greenhouse gas emissions) will increase 50% by 2030, largely resulting from growth in energy consumption in China and other developing nations.

July 1, 2008 - Associated Press via Google News

Bad Mortgages and Gas Prices = Good For Cities?

The article suggests that rising gas prices, enduring subprime mortgage crisis, and some changing demographics (i.e., the aging of Baby Boomers) are all contributing to the greater popularity of central city neighborhoods.

July 1, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Fed Freezes Solar Power

The Bureau of Land Management, with a pile of solar power plans on its desk, declares a moratorium on building on public land until they can do environmental impact studies.

June 30, 2008 - The New York Times

Delaware Wind Power Farm Gains Viability Through Major Investor

A Delaware energy company has agreed to buy power from a proposed offshore wind power farm that could now be built by 2012. The agreement gives more clout to the proposed power farm, which has been debated in the state for years.

June 29, 2008 - The News Journal

Too Much Power

High water levels are straining hydroelectric power generators in Oregon, where too much energy is being created.

June 29, 2008 - The Oregonian

Amtrak Struggles To Meet Skyrocketing Demand

With unprecedented demand, Amtrak is hampered by years of neglect. The agency is unable to handle all the new customers resulting from high gas prices and plane tickets and is struggling to replace aged equipment and pay for increased fuel costs.

June 28, 2008 - The New York Times

Bucky's Sustainable Planet

Inventor, visionary, and architect Buckminster Fuller used design to tackle problems including homelessness and environmental degradation.

June 26, 2008 - Democracy Now!

Suburbia Running Out of Gas

The economics of long commutes are forcing many to the conclusion that suburban living is no longer viable, and suburban housing prices are falling accordingly.

June 26, 2008 - The New York Times

Reviving the Lowly Clothesline

A grassroots group is working to remove barriers to erecting clotheslines, which are commonly banned by apartments buildings as a blight. The group is pitching their work as an energy conservation effort.

June 26, 2008 - Rutland Herald

Gas Pipelines Through Neighborhoods Are A Difficult Proposition

Fort Worth, Texas officials try to tackle the thorny issue of gas pipelines snaking through residential neighborhoods.

June 25, 2008 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Snow Forces City To Conserve

An avalanche decimates an Alaskan city's energy infrastructure, leading residents to craft creative ways to conserve energy and lower their utility bills.

June 18, 2008 - The Next American City

China Using 10 Times More Cement Than Anyone Else

The Oil Drum charts recent figures released by the U.S. Geological Survey, which show a stunning growth in cement use (and therefore, presumably, building activity) in China as compared to world usage.

June 18, 2008 - The Oil Drum

The Promise of New Industrial Jobs

Bethlehem Steel left 25 years ago, but a new, mysterious energy company is brining a glimmer of hope to Lackawanna, New York. The proposed plant, to be built on Bethlehem's brownfields, would convert petroleum coke into synthetic gas.

June 18, 2008 - The Buffalo News

Protests, Riots Go Global as Fuel Costs Soar

Protests both peaceful and violent are breaking out across Europe and Asia as people's livelihoods begin to suffer from soaring fuel costs, and some stores are running out of food as truck drivers go on strike.

June 16, 2008 - This Is London

Rural U.S. Hit Hardest By Gas Prices

Gas prices have just surpassed the $4 mark, but the impact is far from uniform throughout the nation- poor, rural counties, particularly in the south and west, suffer disproportionately.

June 11, 2008 - The New York Times

Obama and McCain's Energy, Environment Policies Compared

The Wall Street Journal and other publications compare the energy and environmental policies of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, presumptive nominees for the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

June 9, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

Now That People Are Using Transit, Improve It

Driving is down, transit ridership is up, but few are serisouly talking about how to improve America's transit system, according to this article from Grist, which wonders why.

June 9, 2008 - Grist

The Connection Between Gas Prices and Car Choice, Explained

The cartoon strip 'This Modern World' looks at how gas prices have influenced motorists' selection of motor vehicles in the United States - from the 1970's to 'five minutes from now'.

June 7, 2008 - Salon.com

Weird Energy Sources Debunked

One of the hosts of Mythbusters turns his eye on new ideas for energy sources, from grape juice to used tires.

June 5, 2008 - Mother Jones

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

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