Energy

Will Electric Utilities Disrupt the Oil Industry in California?

A key bill had language allowing public utilities to enter into the electric vehicle charging industry—overlooked by the oil industry and a game-changer for EVs as it tackles one of their most formidable challenges.

October 29, 2015 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Pumping Gas

Report: The Price of Driving Doesn't Match the Cost of Driving

The true cost of vehicle and road use is not reflected in the price drivers pay.

October 29, 2015 - City Observatory City Commentary

What Does the Connected Home Mean for Energy Policy?

As cities look to the Internet of Things to reimagine urban infrastructure, one hope is that real-time data collection will help increase energy efficiency at the regional level. Where do homes outfitted with a network of smart devices fit in?

October 28, 2015 - VerdeXchange News

Car Bike Lane

Bicyclists and Sunday Drivers Clash in DC

To some, a protected bike lane saves lives; to others, it threatens the survival of a community.

October 27, 2015 - The Washington Post

A Super Energy-Efficient Home for the Alaskan Frontier

An engineer from Fairbanks, Alaska, has built a house that is "kept toasty without fossil fuels and uses a mere fraction of the energy typically needed, even at 30 below."

October 23, 2015 - Alaska Dispatch News

Saying Bye-Bye to Fireplaces And Wood-Burning Heaters in the Bay Area

In a Bay Area first, new home construction in most of the region will be banned from having these heating devices installed as the result of a rule adopted unanimously by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Oct. 21.

October 23, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

Oil Drills

World Demand for Oil to Increase in 2016

It's the best of both worlds for OPEC as cheap oil prices increase demand while high-cost rival oil producers are forced to close down wells according to an OPEC study released Oct. 12. And it was all planned.

October 20, 2015 - Reuters

On the Eventual Energy Efficient Future of 'Solar Suburbs'

Experts say it's only a matter of time until suburbs enter a new era of energy efficiency that redefines the landscape of residential living.

October 15, 2015 - Yale Environment 360

Power Plant

25 Coal Power Plants to Shutter in Michigan in Five Years

Credit EPA emission regulations for the decisions by utilities to close the aging plants. Michigan receives half its power from coal—the most polluting fossil fuel. The new Clean Power Plan rule will cause more remaining plants to close in time.

October 15, 2015 - Power Engineering

Charger Rage Hits Electric Vehicle Country in California

All is not copacetic in the Bay Area's EV community. An apparent shortage of electric vehicle chargers is causing incidents where EV owners disregard proper 'charging etiquette' and unplug the charger from other EVs to charge their own vehicle.

October 12, 2015 - The New York Times - Science

The Law in New York: Close the Door When Running Air Conditioners

It's now illegal for businesses to use air conditioners on the sidewalks of New York City. Some see government overreach—some see common sense energy efficiency measures.

October 9, 2015 - The Washington Post

The 'Energy Atlas' of Los Angeles County Lets Planners and Citizens Track Energy Use

"Not knowing which kinds of buildings consume what is like not being able to gauge differences between a diesel truck and a hybrid car."

October 7, 2015 - CityLab

First West Coast LNG Export Facility Gets Critical Federal OK

On Sept. 30, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the final environmental impact statement for a contentious $7.5 billion Liquefied Natural Gas export facility, pipeline, and power plant in Coos Bay, Ore. More approvals are still needed.

October 6, 2015 - Portland Business Journal

Lawns and Suburban Homes

Let the Lawns Go

According to one Dallas suburbanite, the American lawn is a "decadent and unsustainable totem[s] of middle-class prosperity."

October 6, 2015 - Dallas Observer

Coit Tower

Beyond the Big One: Real Recovery in San Francisco

What does it mean to be a Chief Resilience Officer for one America's largest cities? Doggerel spoke to Patrick Otellini, Chief Resilient Officer for San Francisco, to find out what it takes to make a truly resilient city.

September 29, 2015 - Doggerel

$7 Billion Later, Shell to Withdraw from Arctic Oil Drilling

Environmentalists could have saved themselves a lot of demonstrating had they known that Shell Oil would pack up their drilling rigs after only six weeks of exploratory drilling in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska. Insufficient oil and other reasons cited.

September 29, 2015 - Reuters

California's Oil Battles Move from Legislature to Air Resources Board

Big Oil may have defeated Gov. Jerry Brown's oil reduction goal in the legislature this month, but there are other avenues for the green governor to pursue his climate change agenda. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard was renewed by CARB on Sept. 25.

September 27, 2015 - The Sacramento Bee - Capitol Alert

China to Start Cap-and-Trade to Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2017

President Xi Jinping announced a landmark commitment on Sept. 25 to commence a cap-and-trade program in 2017, going further than the U.S. to limit emissions.

September 26, 2015 - The New York Times - Asia Pacific

Controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project Moves Forward

This week Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas submitted permits to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a 550-mile natural gas pipeline across three mid-Atlantic states.

September 22, 2015 - WRAL

FEMA Trailer

The Katrina Cottage Legacy

The New Urbanist Katrina Cottages initiative for the Gulf Coast appeared to be a failure but their legacy lives on in the SmartDwellings and in the Tiny House movement.

September 20, 2015 - Original Green

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.