Environment
A Dozen New Laws to Spur Sales of Zero Emission Vehicles in California
Gov. Jerry Brown signed 12 bills on Oct. 10 to facilitate the transition from oil-powered light and heavy duty vehicles to electric power in California, and thus meet his goal of putting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025.
Comparing the Environmental Impact of Building vs. Buying a Home
Which is better for the environment: buying an existing home, inefficiencies and all, or paying to build a new home with all the bells and whistles of green building technology?
Wine Country Wildfires Put Focus on Wildland-Urban Interface
The fires in Northern California have caused at least 21 deaths, with over 500 people missing in Sonoma County. Wired science editor, Adam Rogers, looks at the problems posed when urban development encroaches wildlands.
Communities Debate Potential Mine Near Mt. St. Helens
Fishermen, former loggers, and conservationists are just some of the groups with a stake in whether a mining operation takes root in Washington state.
San Francisco Planning to Remove the Great Highway as Coastal Erosion Takes its Toll
In the 1920s, the city of San Francisco extended the shoreline of south Ocean Beach by some 200 feet. Now the coast there is eroding as a result of that action, and the Great Highway is on shaky ground.
Southern California's Largest Water District Approves $4.3 Billion for Delta Project
Two steps back, one step forward so far for the $17.7 billion California WaterFix tunneling project.
Boston Plans Park Network for Resilience and Revitalization
The city hopes to accelerate development and mitigate flood risk along the industrial Fort Point Channel with a string of new parks.
New Research Methods Help Nebraska's Water Management Plan
Researchers at the University of Nebraska have been working with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to develop best practices for predicting and planning for the future water needs of urban developments.
Washington's Not-So-Green Marijuana Industry
After Washington legalized marijuana in 2012, an indoor cultivation industry has grown to a sizable presence in the state's environmental footprint.
Trump Administration to Repeal Obama's Clean Power Plan
"The war on coal is over," says EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
An Island of 3.4 Million Living Off the Grid
Living off the grid usually refers to a lifestyle choice to live far from power lines and other basic infrastructure that most of civilization takes for granted—until a natural disaster wipes it all out.
Hurricane Nate to Test New Orlean's Drainage System
Nate will make landfall southeast of New Orleans on Saturday night as possibly a category 2 hurricane after leaving at least 22 dead in Central America. It's not so much the levees but the pumps and generators that have city officials worried.
What Will It Take to Green Puerto Rico Again?
Not only did Hurricane Maria destroy most of Puerto Rico's man-made infrastructure, it also defoliated the island's vast tropical forests, upsetting the forest ecology—in the short term.
CNU Climate Summit Highlights
Growing set of tools measures the impact of urban form on climate. Hazel Borys reviews highlights of the CNU Climate Summit held last weekend near Washington, D.C.
Lake Erie Algae Bloom Growing Again
The algae bloom in Lake Erie has spread to cover much of the edge of Lake Eerie near Toledo, but toxins remain low where local communities draw drinking water supply.
Can I Have a Diet Coke With That Ice Cream Sundae?
Essentially that's what UC Davis, Yale, and MIT researchers found among California families who purchase very fuel efficient vehicles—they also pair them with gas hogs. If your family owns two vehicles, do you meet the profile?
Lawsuit Would Recognize the Human Rights of the Colorado River
Corporations have rights in the United States, and an organization called Deep Green Resistance is going to federal court in Colorado to argue that rivers should too.
California Mulls Banning Sales of Cars with Internal Combustion Engines
Eying European and Asian countries that have set, or are considering timelines to ban sales of cars that emit greenhouse gases, the California governor asked his chief air regulator to see why California couldn't follow suit.
Major Changes Coming to British Columbia's Carbon Tax
The government of British Columbia, put in power this year with the help of the BC Green Party, is shoring up its climate change action resume.
High Speed Rail Transforming California's Housing, TOD Conversation
The California Legislature took steps to address the state's housing crisis this year, but housing activists might look to the Governor's High Speed Rail project to provide a link to affordable housing in the Central Valley.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
