Energy

Diablo Canyon Nuclear

The Only Remaining Nuclear Power Plant in California Will Close

In a surprise announcement by Pacific Gas and Electric Company on Tuesday, it was learned that California's only remaining nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County along California's central coast, will close in nine years.

June 23, 2016 - The (San Luis Obispo) Tribune

Lake Powell

Is Glen Canyon Dam Obsolete?

As climate changes in the Rockies and the southwest, Lake Powell is gradually shrinking. The debate over Glen Canyon Dam is on again, and this time environmentalists aren't the only ones against it.

June 23, 2016 - Pacific Standard

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Solar Canopies Provide a Solution for New York Roofs

A design fix helps Brooklyn brownstones go green.

June 20, 2016 - Wired

Shuttering of Illinois Nuke Plants Cause Enviro Groups to Rethink Opposition

The Wall Street Journal reports that the climate crisis is causing some mainstream environmental groups, including the largest, the Sierra Club, to rethink their long-standing opposition to the carbon-free power source.

June 20, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Pittsburgh Suburb Rejects Zoning Change for Proposed Power Plant

A zoning controversy could continue into a legal appeal.

June 18, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

View of solar panels on roofs

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Choose Sides in the Solar Power Debate

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has shifted its approach to the growing U.S. solar industry, coming out on the side of utilities on the issue of net metering.

June 17, 2016 - Grist

Power Plant

More Bad News for Coal: U.S. Supreme Court Won't Block Mercury Emissions Rule

For a second time, the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to hear from 20 states that sought to block implementation of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule on mercury and air toxins that largely affects coal-fired power plants and public health.

June 15, 2016 - The Washington Post

Wind Farm at Upolu

A New Era in the U.S.: More Carbon Emissions from Transportation Than Utilities

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that the total carbon emissions of the transportation sector is now greater than the carbon emissions of energy utilities.

June 14, 2016 - Vox

Electric Cars

Gas and Diesel Cars Could Be Banned in Norway by 2025

Norway's four major political parties appear to agree to a ban on gasoline and diesel-powered passenger vehicles by 2025. And they are not alone. Efforts are also underway in The Netherlands and India, according to the news site Electrek.

June 13, 2016 - Electrek

Petrochemical Plant

Giant Ethane Cracker Coming to a Keystone Opportunity Zone Near Pittsburgh

The state of Pennsylvania and the county of Beaver have what they wanted: Shell has decided to build a new ethane cracker facility northwest of Pittsburgh.

June 9, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Powersource

Will Columbia River Gorge Oil Train Derailment Be a 'Death Knell' for Bakken Crude-by-Rail?

After a long night fighting a fire that erupted when a 96-car oil train carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota derailed on June 3 in Mosier, Oregon, the fire chief called for an end to shipping the volatile oil by rail.

June 6, 2016 - The Oregonian

Seattle Apartments

Seattle May Follow San Francisco in Tossing Conventional Level of Service Standards

Mayor Ed Murray released a 20-year growth plan, Seattle 2035, that retains LOS, but rather than measuring vehicle congestion, measures mode share, consistent with his vision for a green and sustainable city, but rattling The Seattle Times.

May 30, 2016 - The Seattle Times

W-S_125_pipe_yard

Feds Approve New Natural Gas Pipeline Despite Corruption Probe

Federal regulators approved a pipeline critical to a natural gas power plant currently embroiled in a federal corruption investigation.

May 19, 2016 - Politico New York

Methane

EPA Releases Final Methane Rule for New and Modified Oil and Gas Wells

While the methane reduction targets are the same as the draft rule released last August (i.e., 40-45 percent reduction of 2012 levels by 2025), the new rule removes exceptions, resulting in a 30 percent improvement in reductions of methane.

May 18, 2016 - The Hill

An Update on President Obama's 'Better Building Initiative'

A press release and fact sheet about the accomplishments of the Obama Administration's "Better Building Initiative" includes three new national programs designed to improve the efficiency and resilience of the built environment.

May 12, 2016 - The White House

Oil

Interior Department Secretary Jumps Into Fossil Fuel Debate

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell expressed a surprisingly pro-industry viewpoint in response to the growing "keep it in the ground" environmental movement.

May 9, 2016 - The Desert Sun

Pumping Gas

Gas Delivery Straight to Your Vehicle. What Could Go Wrong?

Cities and fire departments around the country are struggling with the sudden explosion of start-ups promising to make your life easier by delivering gasoline straight to your vehicle.

May 5, 2016 - Bloomberg

Oil Rigs

Report Details Strategies for Energy States to Weather Booms and Busts

Some states relied more on the most recent energy boom than others, and some prepared more for the inevitable bust. A report by the Brookings Institution recommends actions for energy states to build resilience in the face of boom and bust cycles.

May 4, 2016 - Governing

Ford Headquarters

Ford Plans New Headquarters for a New Century

Following the example of much newer corporations in Silicon Valley, the Ford Motor Company is planning a $9 billion new campus in Dearborn, to be built over ten years.

May 3, 2016 - The New York Times

Coal Railroad

Feds Finally Kill $400 Million Tongue River Coal Railroad Proposal

The unraveling of the coal industry, as exemplified by the demise of Arch Coal, was on display again as federal regulators put the final nail in the coffin of a proposed coal railroad.

April 27, 2016 - Billings Gazette

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.

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