In this Newshour video (with transcript), spokesmen from a liberal and conservation think tank debate each other on the feasibility of transitioning to clean, green energy from the current fossil fuel powered economy in light of the Gulf disaster.
"In his address to the nation Tuesday (6/15) night, President Obama urged Americans that "the time to embrace a clean energy future is now."
(The NewsHour's) "Jeffrey Brown sits down with guests Daniel Weiss, senior fellow and director of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, and Kenneth Green, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative policy research group, for two starkly different perspectives on the President's goal of clean energy."
"DANIEL WEISS: (The spill) dramatically increases the urgency. For the first time in a long time, energy policy and oil is a watercooler conversation. People are talking about it every day. This is the time to act."
Weiss and Green appear to share no beliefs. Green labels the latest technologies, e.g. electric cars, cellulosic energy, "failed technologies", and points out that there have been other 'clarion calls' to address energy independence such as the oil shocks of the 1970s. As for his own lifestyle, he notes "I got rid of my car five years ago. I live in an apartment. I take the metro into work."
FULL STORY: Oil Spill Sparks National Conversation on Future of Energy
Has President Obama Turned the Corner on Climate Change?
Analysts have noted a change in the president on climate change in his second term. Call it a "message shift". Rather than addressing it in terms of the need for clean energy and renewables, he now speaks directly to the perils of climate change.
Carbon Emissions Back on the Rise—Along With Cleaner Energy
Climate-friendly government policies and recent investments by energy companies are accelerating the growth of renewables.
Majority of Power in the U.K. Generated by Wind for the First Time
Wind power generated 50.67 percent of the U.K.’s energy supply on one day in December, marking a major milestone in the history of renewable energy.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research