Energy

Geothermal heat pump installed on wall next to water boiler

Houston Co-Housing Project to Use Geothermal Heating and Cooling

The development will also include communal kitchens, community gardens, and other shared spaces aimed at bringing neighbors together.

February 28, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

Resilience Matters: Collective Action For Healthier Communities

The Island Press Urban Resilience Project (URP) has published a new, free "Resilience Matters" e-book that contains fascinating articles, op-eds, and interviews that provide practical guidance for collective action to build a fairer, greener future.

February 27, 2023 - Resilience Matters: Collective Action for Healthier Communities

View of empty beach with wooden fishing pier going out into Atlantic Ocean at sunset in New Jersey

New Jersey Offshore Wind Projects Face Opposition

Local critics of Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to install hundreds of wind turbines off the New Jersey coast plan to sue the state to stop or delay the projects, citing aesthetic, environmental, and economic concerns.

February 23, 2023 - Governing

Close-up of line of cars at electric vehicle charging station

Virginia Ties Clean Car Standards to California

The last obstacle to a 2021 bill linking Virginia’s emissions standards to California policy was defeated on a party-line vote in the state’s legislature, paving the way for a shift to electric vehicles.

February 16, 2023 - The Virginia Mercury

Close-up of black electric stove with red heated coil and person reaching out to press button

Study: Electric Stoves Improve Air Quality

Air pollutants in housing units that received electric stoves as part of a pilot program dropped sharply, signaling that switching to electric appliances has public health benefits as well as environmental ones.

February 10, 2023 - Next City

Power lines against sunset sky and snowy landscape in rural Minnesota

Minnesota Utilities to Go Carbon-Free by 2040

If signed by the governor, a new state law would require all utilities in the state to switch to renewable energy within two decades.

February 7, 2023 - Route Fifty

Photo of cars on two-way separated highway with illustrated lines between them indicating tech-driven decisions

How Autonomous Cars Could Impact Energy Use

The complex algorithms used by self-driving vehicle technology use massive amounts of energy, which could lead to a steep rise in carbon emissions as autonomous cars become more commonplace.

February 2, 2023 - Dezeen

Blue electric transit buses at a charging bay in Gothenburg, Sweden with two-story red brick building in background

New Round of Federal Clean Transit Funding Announced

Two federal grants will award close to $1.7 billion to state and local agencies to replace aging transit fleets and boost workforce development initiatives.

January 30, 2023 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Blue portable oxygen medical device with attached clear mask

How Emergency Planning Fails People With Disabilities

In California and elsewhere, power outages can threaten the lives of people dependent on medical devices, while evacuation plans often don’t account for the needs of disabled people.

January 25, 2023 - High Country News

Close-up of lit burner on gas stove with blue flames

Why the Gas Stove Debate Misses the Point

Banning gas-powered appliances is one part of a broader toolkit of changes in building codes that could vastly improve efficiency.

January 18, 2023 - Route Fifty

Rendering of grey convertible electric Hummer charging at a charging station against a sunset sky

Electric Car Batteries Spark Weight Concerns

A federal transportation official is warning that electric vehicle batteries, which can weigh thousands of pounds and make cars much heavier than their gas-powered counterparts.

January 16, 2023 - NPR

Oil Pump in Los Angeles

Lawsuit Challenges L.A. Oil Drilling Ban

Oil companies with operations in the city of Los Angeles are suing over an ordinance that seeks to phase out drilling within city limits due to public health and environmental concerns.

January 12, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

View of cars in traffic from behind with visible tailpipe emissions

Federal Plan Takes Aim at Transportation Emissions

The U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization is designed to guide federal investment and regulations, focusing on electrification with a nod to transit investment and walkability.

January 10, 2023 - The Washington Post

Overhead view of parking lot with solar panel canopies over parking spots and red car driving in

The Slow Growth of Solar Carports

Placing solar panels over parking lots has multiple benefits, but higher costs have prevented their widespread adoption in U.S. cities.

January 6, 2023 - CNET

Capitol

What to Expect from U.S. Climate Policy in 2023

2022 was full of historic legislative accomplishments on climate policy. 2023 is unlikely to achieve the same significance, though the changing climate demands more of the same.

January 4, 2023 - The Washington Post

Power transmission lines surrounded by orange California poppies and silhouette of mountains in background

Why California’s Power Lines Take So Long to Build

The years-long permitting process for new transmission lines is slowing the state’s shift to clean energy.

January 2, 2023 - Governing

A sign reads “Sorry No Gas Today”.

Oregon to End Sales of Gas-Powered Vehicles by 2035

There must be something about having a coast on the Pacific Ocean that makes states set policies to accelerate the end of the internal combustion engine.

December 23, 2022 - The Oregonian

Cars on a New York City street

Mapping Climate Impact at the Neighborhood Level

A consumption-based analysis illustrates the differences in average household emissions across census tracts.

December 15, 2022 - The New York Times

Mount Rainier

Seattle Mayor Calls for ‘Low-Pollution Neighborhoods’

An executive order signed last week consolidates actions the city plans to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

December 14, 2022 - The Urbanist

View of black oil wells behind chain link fence with barbed wire top

Los Angeles To Phase Out Oil Drilling

The city has banned new wells and will end all extraction within two decades.

December 6, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

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

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.