Yes, yes, blogosphere echochamber mutual admiration blah blah blah. It pays the bills, baby. My day job this month has a fun, interesting package on hybrid cars and how they're going to change the shape of the energy debate (and here is a
Yes, yes, blogosphere echochamber mutual admiration blah blah blah. It pays the bills, baby. My day job this month has a fun, interesting package on hybrid cars and how they're going to change the shape of the energy debate (and here is a link to it, on which you may click upon with your mouse device, should you so choose).
And now, an excerpt:
Toyota knows China is the future. It will open a Prius manufacturing plant in Chang-chun by the end of the year, and Press believes driving conditions in China make hybrids an ideal fit - if not the Prius, then perhaps a more low-cost, low-power alternative perfect for puttering around megacities (see "China's Next Cultural Revolution," page 106). Or maybe the demand will be for so-called mild hybrids, like Honda's Civic Hybrid, which save fuel and limit emissions but can't run on electricity alone. Such vehicles improve fuel economy by 10 to 25 percent, chiefly by using an electric motor to start the engine. The technology is nowhere near as impressive as the Prius power train, but it's simpler and cheaper - which will be important to Chinese workers making $800 a month.
If Prius' early track record is any indication, the world will embrace hybrids. Prius waiting times have stretched six months or more, even with dealers selling above MSRP; the Lexus RX 400h had a preorder list of 18,000 names in January, three months before its release. And the masses are taking notice. A 2004 study by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 47 percent of those surveyed would consider buying a hybrid, higher prices and all.
See what I'm saying? Good story.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

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.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024
The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.
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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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