Utilities
Wanted: An Electrical Grid That Looks Like the Internet
All the coal industry's money has not been able to stem the growth of renewable energy and distributed generation. For the electricity grid, the future is already here.
Report: How Do Local Water Utilities Measure Up?
With the federal funding situation uncertain, water utilities are left in widely varying financial positions. Comparing local utilities across six metrics paints a grim picture.
A Little Help Explaining the Stormwater Utility Concept
American Rivers has created a toolkit for implementing stormwater utilityies
The Winners and Losers of Utility Rates
An example from St. Louis County shows one way that sprawl is subsidized by areas closer to the regional center.
What Does the Connected Home Mean for Energy Policy?
As cities look to the Internet of Things to reimagine urban infrastructure, one hope is that real-time data collection will help increase energy efficiency at the regional level. Where do homes outfitted with a network of smart devices fit in?
New York's Visionary Model of Utilities Reform
Utilities profit from building more power plants—a flawed model for a diminishing natural monopoly.
$1.2 Billion 'Energy Strong' Project Construction Making Life Difficult in New Jersey
A complex infrastructure investment project to build resilience into the energy grid is snarling traffic in North and Central New Jersey.
The End of the Era of Cheap Water
In many places around the country, the price of water is increasing, quickly. While the reasons for the increase vary depending on the location, common to the issue is the ability of planning to either help or hinder the problem.
How To: Smarter Infrastructure Investments
In the next few decades, U.S. governments and businesses are predicted to spend trillions of dollars on infrastructure. This is the reality. The question is: how do we get smart about these investments?
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.
Smart Meters Spill Your Secrets and Utilities Respond
The millions of smart meters and grid sensors in operation across North America are providing a flood of information that utilities are still struggling to process. But changes in operations are already emerging, and potential uses grow by the day.
Powering L.A.'s Future Without Breaking the Bank
Through determined investment, L.A. is on track to generate a third of its power from renewables by 2020. Varun Sivaram, formerly Mayor Villaraigosa's senior advisor on energy and water policy, explains how the city must modernize its power system.
As Natural Gas Prices Rise, Utilities Turn Toward Coal
An Ohio utility is switching to coal due to the rising price of natural gas, illustrating how sensitive fuel prices are to utilities. However, when it comes to building new plants - natural gas has the advantage due to coal's higher capital costs.
Why Developers are Getting Into Energy Efficiency and Power Generation
As utilities and energy companies move towards distributed power, building owners, businesses, and developers are seeing the possibilities.
A 'Gold Rush' in the Wires
Copper demand is on the rise all over the planet. As this post from InfraNet Lab points out, the U.S. has rich deposits -- in its telephone networks.
Boulder's Smart Grid 'Bloody Nose'
Three years ago, Boulder grabbed international attention when it announced plans to construct a "smart grid" of high tech tools to help cut its electricity consumption. But that project has gone way over budget.
Small Towns Seek to Buy Back Energy Infrastructure
Small German towns that had sold off their energy utilities to large corporations in the 1990s are trying to buy them back. They want to be back in on the lucrative energy market, but have large and formidable opponents.
Cities Prepare for Electric Cars
San Francisco, Portland, and San Diego lead the charge to ensure everything from power grids to building codes are prepared for arrival of electric cars.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
