As solar power approaches and even surpasses fossil fuels in cost, the next goal is to make the source of renewable energy ubiquitous.
Tina Casey shares news of the huge scale that the solar industry has achieved in recent years: "The US solar industry has engineered a 1200% increase in utility-scale capacity since 2008, according to a new blog post from the Energy Department."
The article's title—"Nothing Can Stop the US Solar Juggernaut Now"—implies a long-term pattern that will persist beyond the current "hiccup" (as Casey describes it) in the price of oil. The Obama Administration even has a plan to bring the cost of solar energy into parity with fossil fuels, called the SunShot initiative. Casey declares that SunShot has been "so far so good," but a lot more work remains to be done to make solar " not only competitive but ubiquitous."
Along those lines, the Energy Department last week announced $59 million of new funding to support the solar industry. According to a press release announcing the funds, "[the] Department is making $45 million in funding available to quickly move innovative solar manufacturing technologies to market, and is also awarding more than $14 million for 15 new projects to help communities develop multi-year solar deployment plans to install solar electricity in homes, businesses, and communities." Casey provides additional insight into those programs in the article.
FULL STORY: Nothing Can Stop The US Solar Industry Juggernaut Now

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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