The Willis Tower in Chicago, once the tallest building in the world, is still making history in superlative terms.

The 110-story Willis Tower, the largest building in the U.S. to have earned LEED Platinum certification, "will be powered with 100 percent renewable energy through a multi-year partnership with Texas-based Dynergy," reports Anca Gagiuc.
"The skyscraper, part of EQ Office—a U.S. office portfolio company owned by Blackstone’s real estate funds—will have electricity sourced from wind parks via renewable energy credits, while keeping costs to tenants consistent," explains Gagiuc of the specifics of the tower's renewable energy plan.
The Willis Tower is underway with a $500 million renovation that resulted in the LEED Platinum designation, according to an article written by Jeff Hamann in December 2019 that documents the green building improvements added during the renovation. The renovation produced a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption for the building, according to Gagiuc.
Although the renovation was planned for completion early in 2020, the progress of the renovation was still being documented on the Internet by photos taken at the beginning of September.
The renovation is creating a new retail, dining, and entertainment destination at the base of Willis Tower, according to earlier reporting by Jay Koziarz.
FULL STORY: Willis Tower to Run on Wind Power

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
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