Renewable Energy

Report: the American Economy is Running Cleaner and Greener

Tim McDonnell shares news of a recent report outlining how Americans are using energy that offers climate change activists plenty of encouraging information.

February 12, 2015 - Mother Jones

Burlington Vermont

Running on 100 Percent Renewables, Burlington Shows the Way Forward

The city of Burlington, largest in the Green Mountain State, is the only city in the U.S. to provide electricity from entirely renewable sources, notwithstanding criticism from some environmentalists. PBS Newshour Weekend investigates.

February 1, 2015 - PBS NewsHour

State Political Winds Turn Against Renewable Energy

Last fall's Republican victories might mean that state legislatures will turn back the clock on laws requiring renewable energy.

January 26, 2015 - Governing

Can Maine Follow Denmark to Energy Independence?

Visitors from small islands off the coast of Maine traveled to Samsø, a larger island off the coast of Denmark, to learn how to emulate its transformation into a model of renewable energy.

January 20, 2015 - The New York Times

High-Voltage Power Lines Awaken the German NIMBY

Never mind that the lines are needed to carry renewable energy from wind turbines in the north to industries in the south to meet the nation's formidable carbon reduction policies. Public health and property values come first for some neighbors.

December 30, 2014 - The New York Times

Explaining the Ups and Downs of U.S. Wind Power

A Vox post explains the fickle trends of wind power production in the United States.

December 27, 2014 - Vox

Ohio Takes Two Steps Back on Energy

"After a few years of progress, a new national ranking of state energy efficiency policies confirms that Ohio is now falling fast behind competing states," reports David Beach.

November 3, 2014 - Green City Blue Lake

California has the Potential to Power Itself Solely by Renewables

The new paper, "A Roadmap for Repowering California for all Purposes with Wind, Water, and Sunlight," discusses the potential clean energy future for the Golden State by 2050.

August 7, 2014 - Pacific Standard

Unlocking the Biogas Potential in America's Farms

Thinking about "renewable power" often bring hydroelectric, wind, and solar to mind. The informed will recognize geothermal and biomass as major renewables. Biogas, the non-fossil natural gas, is not well known because few facilities capture it.

August 4, 2014 - EPA Blog

Public Comment Sought for U.S. EPA's 'RE-Powering America's Land' Action Plan

The U.S. EPA is in the process of updating its 2008 plan to promote renewable energy on formerly contaminated land, mines, or landfill sites.

May 15, 2014 - U.S. EPA

Renewables Account for 92 Percent of New Power in the United States

Although the United States built less new energy capacity than in the same time period last year, renewable energy dominated the capacity to come online so far in 2014.

April 24, 2014 - Next City

Texas Breaking Wind Power Records

Texas is the largest wind power producer in the United States, but its recent capacity efforts have broken records. And there are more megawatts on the way.

April 3, 2014 - Next City

China Makes Moves to Cleaner Coal

Charles C. Mann reports on the benefits and obstacles to cleaner coal and why we need to explore carbon capture and storage even as we transition to renewable energy.

March 29, 2014 - Wired.com

Europe is Latest to Loosen Climate Commitments

As warnings from scientists about our changing planet become more dire, countries are retreating from their prior climate commitments. Once a leader, the European Union is bowing to economic pressures and loosening renewable energy targets.

January 26, 2014 - The New York Times

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Not-So-Bright Future for Utility-Scale Solar Projects

Construction and permitting for large solar facilities like those located in the desert at the border of California and Nevada is nearly non-existent. Uncertainty over expiring tax credits is only partly to blame.

January 13, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

India's Innovative Green City Ignores Timeless Design Lessons

Rajarhat's Rabi Rashmi Abasan (Solar Housing Complex) is being hailed as a trend-setter for India's efforts to increase its use of renewable energy. But the urban design of the new city rising on the edge of Kolkata ignores timeless lessons.

December 20, 2013 - Next City

This California Jail is Off the Grid

The Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California isn’t your average prison complex. Its independent power system, or microgrid, sets it apart from its peers—and saves an estimated $100,000 a year.

November 3, 2013 - The Atlantic

Innovative Energy-Storing Solar Power Plant Debuts in Arizona

Energy storage is acknowledged by many as a missing link of renewable energy, particularly by those quick to cite the intermittency of solar and wind power. A new solar thermal plant in Arizona stores energy in the form of heat for peak hour needs.

October 22, 2013 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Amid Battle for Scarce State Dollars, Costly CA Energy Program Gets Scrutinized

In case you haven't noticed, California is big into alternative energy. Just how big? $1.6 billion was spent last year and $15 billion over the last decade as education and public services fought for scraps. The spending is attracting new scrutiny.

October 15, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

New Rooftop Solar Laws in California Benefit Homeowners and Utilities

In the last week to sign bills, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 327 that allows utilities to charge all ratepayers for costs incurred to the grid by rooftop solar and allows those who have it to 'run the meter backwards', known as net metering.

October 10, 2013 - KCET

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.