With less than 300 residents, the town of Vienna, Maryland, has been grappling with the idea of growth for years. The town's mayor is now supporting a plan that will let the town grow, but not explode.
The new plan for growth involves acquiring nearly 400 acres of farmland and building about 300 homes, effectively tripling the town of Vienna's small population. But the mayor doesn't want to just sprinkle homes on the new land. He's planning on integrating this new development with existing homes, utilizing existing infrastructure, and designing homes to match the existing style.
"A preliminary plan envisions houses designed to match the white clapboard homes in the older part of Vienna, linking new and old in a seamless extension of streets that were first laid out when the town got its charter in 1706. New neighborhoods and old would be centered on a new town square with a new Town Hall building, Mayor Russell Brinsfield says."
"Supporters say Vienna's project is classic smart growth -- a carefully planned cluster of neighborhoods linked to water and sewer and other services instead of new homes scattered across scarce rural farmland on wells and septic systems."
FULL STORY: Vienna tries to plan growth

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Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

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California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
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Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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