Environment

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

California Resists Federal Efforts to Roll Back Environmental Regulations

California is pushing back against federal actions by enforcing state rules and standards that it says have precedence.

March 30, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Fund Clean Energy - Stop HRL Coal Fired power station - withdraw federal grant

Report: Most U.S. Coal Plants Uncompetitive with Renewables

The report heralds increased shuttering of coal-burning powered plants due to cheaper alternatives. Almost three-quarters of coal-burning power plants today are more costly to operate than renewable facilities. In six years, it jumps to 86 percent.

March 29, 2019 - InsideClimate News

London Air Pollution

Polluting Cars Will Have to Pay to Drive Into London, Starting in April

London's 'Ultra Low Emission Zone' is taking effect in April. Here are the details on the ambitious clean air plans.

March 28, 2019 - BBC

London Air Pollution

Crisis Response Afforded Aviation Fatalities But Neglected for Automobile Tragedies

The Globe and Mail editorial board points out the obvious hypocrisies of the global response to an aviation tragedy relative to the ongoing tragedies that occur every day as a result of the world's reliance on automobiles.

March 27, 2019 - Globe and Mail

U.S. Capital

Senate Votes 0–57 to Rebuff Green New Deal

Not one Democratic senator, including sponsor Ed Markey (Mass.), voted on Tuesday to support the resolution "recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal." Instead, most, but not all, Democrats voted "present."

March 27, 2019 - The Washington Post

The Race to Become the First State to Ban Polystyrene Food Containers

Both Maryland and Hawaii are in a race to become the first state to ban polystyrene food containers and beverage cups. The Maryland bill passed the legislature March 12 and awaits a decision by Republican Gov. Hogan. Too early to tell on Hawaii.

March 26, 2019 - The Baltimore Sun

Rural Traffic

Replacing Diesel-Powered Trucks With Natural Gas, Hybrid, and Battery Power

The U.S. Department of Energy, in partnership with the California Energy Commission and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, awarded $18 million to nine companies and universities to advance natural gas technology for trucks.

March 26, 2019 - Climatewire

Hurricane Harvey Houston

Black Towns Face Threats From Flooding and Buyouts

Many of the historic towns would disappear if flood buyout programs force residents to relocate.

March 26, 2019 - Scalawag

Commute

Opinion: Even the Green New Deal Repeats the Same Old Sprawling Mistakes

With infrastructure and housing prices in the national discussion more than ever before, the federal government still doesn't seem ready to really change its ways.

March 26, 2019 - Route Fifty

Atlanta Creek

Environmental Impact Bond to Fund Atlanta Watershed Projects

The bonds finance new green infrastructure projects that otherwise would be considered too risky.

March 24, 2019 - Next City

Bomb Cyclone 2019

Vital Lessons From the Midwest Bomb Cyclone and Flooding of 2019

The floodwaters still haven't subsided in parts of the Midwest, and lessons about climate change, extreme weather and proactive planning are badly needed to avoid similar catastrophes in the future.

March 23, 2019 - Forbes

Recreational Vehicle

Bipartisan Support for Federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Bill

Established in 2005 to reduce toxic diesel emissions, the Diesel Emissions Reductions Act expired in 2016. A bipartisan effort appears to be in place to see it reauthorized this year.

March 23, 2019 - Transport Topics

Culvert

Washington State Needs Funding to Address Culvert Issue

Orcas and tribes depend on salmon, but culverts are blocking the fish from reaching breeding grounds. The state is struggling to come up with funding to remove and repair the infrastructure.

March 23, 2019 - Crosscut

Cleveland, Ohio

The Cuyahoga River Once Caught Fire, Now its Fish Are Safe to Eat

An environmental success story from Ohio.

March 23, 2019 - PhysOrg

Air Pollution

A New Look at Causes and Effects of Pollution, From Production to Consumption

Research shows racial disparities in exposure to air pollution as well as consumption of the goods and services that cause it.

March 22, 2019 - NPR

Oil Rig

At World Oil Conference, No One Questioned Climate Change Science

During the CERAWeek conference held earlier in Houston, oil companies were not of one mind when it came to the future of their industry, with some saying transportation will be electrified while others maintained oil will continue to dominate.

March 22, 2019 - Houston Chronicle

San Diego Trolley

San Diego Unbundles Parking, Eliminates Parking Minimums and Sets Maximums

In addition to replacing parking minimums with parking maximums of one space per unit in transit corridors, the city council went a step further by requiring unbundling, that is, requiring separate payment for parking from the housing.

March 22, 2019 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

California Freeway

Bill Would Phase-Out Most Diesel Emissions in California

The bill is directed at the medium and heavy-duty trucking industry, which, along with buses, account for 90 percent of the state's toxic diesel exhaust. Diesel emissions would need to be reduced by 80 percent by 2050. Will electric trucks be ready?

March 21, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Hurricane Harvey

Connecting the Issues of Flooding and Affordable Housing in Texas

A study released this week by the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium ( the University of Houston, the Kinder Institute, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and more) raises concerns that new floodplain regulations could harm renters.

March 21, 2019 - The Houston Chronicle

New mexico Power

New Mexico Legislation Charts Path Away From Coal, But It Won't Be Easy

The Energy Transition Act passed the New Mexico state House on March 12 and heads to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state's new Democratic governor who supports clean energy, but losing a coal plant early causes far-reaching economic impacts.

March 19, 2019 - Santa Fe New Mexican

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.