Renewable Energy

Solar Power

California's Solar Power is Going to Waste

Blessed with an abundance of sun, California is trying to figure out how to deal with a glut of solar energy.

April 15, 2017 - Daily Breeze

Natural Gas

Can 'Clean Coal Technology' Be Cost-Effective for Natural Gas?

Nations have sunk billions of dollars into carbon capture and storage for coal plants and have little to show for it. A new natural gas demonstration plant outside Houston is confident it is up to the task — without using federal grants.

April 14, 2017 - NPR

Renewable Energy

Meet the Organizations Bringing Equity to the Clean Energy Sector

A clean environment isn't the only benefit of clean energy. Clean energy jobs are also providing economic mobility for many of the 3 million people employed in the industry.

March 19, 2017 - Next City

Brooklyn Program a Leader in 'Microgrid' Electricity Generation

About 50 property owners in the trendiest of New York boroughs have launched a fledgling solar microgrid—sometimes called distributed or peer-to-peer generation. Someday, such arrangements could put a huge dent in the utility industry.

March 17, 2017 - The New York Times

Wind Turbine

Wyoming Law Would Penalize Utilities for Using Renewable Energy

Republican legislators in the state of Wyoming are choosing sides in the energy market—with dire consequences for consumers and the environment.

January 15, 2017 - Billings Gazette

Nuclear New York

Indian Point Nuclear Plant to Shut Down by 2021

Continuing a string of high-profile infrastructure announcements, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a deal to shut down the Indian Point Nuclear Plant, located less than 30 miles from Midtown Manhattan.

January 11, 2017 - The New York Times

Urban Solar Power

How Cities Will Lead the Energy Future

Last month, politicians, energy executives, and energy experts met in Istanbul for the 23rd World Energy Congress. The event gives global leaders a chance to coordinate energy policy, discuss new ideas, and seek solutions to climate change

November 16, 2016 - Doggerel

Wind Turbines

Corporate Leaders Ask GOP-Controlled Ohio Legislature to Preserve Renewable Energy Standards

Renewable Energy regulations in Ohio may get the axe in the state's next congressional session and corporate leaders are urging restraint.

November 14, 2016 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Solar Power

Solar Power Passes Coal-Fired Electricity in U.K.

In a first for renewable energy in the United Kingdom, Solar Power accounted for more electricity than what was produced in Coal plants

October 10, 2016 - Independent (UK)

Texas Wind

What's Powering the Texas Wind Energy Industry?

The Wall Street Journal provides detailed coverage of the Texas wind energy industry, as well as the prospects for even greater adoption of renewable energy in the state.

August 29, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Beijing Skyline

Peak Coal: China's Carbon Emissions Drop as the Use of Coal Slows

In the long struggle to reduce the impacts of climate change, we may have finally hit a positive milestone, as China's use of coal peaked in 2014.

August 10, 2016 - The Guardian

Wind

The Good News that Almost Was for U.S. Offshore Wind Advocates

The anticipated approval of the largest proposed offshore wind farm in the U.S., a 90-megawatt facility off Montauk on Long Island, was unexpectedly delayed. But what will soon be the nation's first offshore wind farm did receive some good news.

July 24, 2016 - Innovate Long Island

Wind farm and greenhouse gas farm, together

Why is Missouri Holding Up a High-Voltage Transmission Line for Wind Energy?

The 'Show Me State' nixed a 780-mile high voltage transmission line to carry wind energy generated in western Kansas through Missouri to Indiana, where it would transmitted to the East Coast.

June 29, 2016 - Columbia Daily Tribune

One Million Solar Panels and Counting

The United States reached a milestone in solar panel installation earlier this year, after 40 years of the industry attempting to gain a foothold. Now the industry is preparing for "warp speed."

April 22, 2016 - greentechmedia

Bill to Phase-Out Coal Power Advances in Oregon

A bill to phase out coal-powered electricity by 2030 is advancing in the legislature. It would also double the state's renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2040 for Oregon's two largest utilities.

March 1, 2016 - Think Progress

Palm Trees

A Wind Turbine Acting Like a Palm Tree Delivers Five Times the Electricity

It's still a longshot for full-scale production, but a unique research partnership has produced a unique example of biomimicry: a wind turbine that borrows from palm trees to achieve new levels of energy production.

February 4, 2016 - ASME

Mapping the Best and Worst Places for Rooftop Solar

A new scorecard, called "Freeing the Grid," evaluates states on the incentives they offer homeowners and businesses to install rooftop solar.

January 29, 2016 - CityLab

Leasing to Spur Growth in Small and Medium-Sized Wind Turbines

Can wind power gain the popularity of rooftop solar? A Brooklyn start-up is betting it can with the leasing of turbines, particularly to farmers and rural residents.

December 22, 2015 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

First There Were Electric Vehicles—Will Electric Roads Be Next?

Two Texas universities received a federal grant to embed sensors in road asphalt to create renewable electricity from the wind created by passing vehicles to power roadside lights and traffic signals.

December 16, 2015 - Energy Harvesting Journal

Community Choice Utilities Gaining Power in California

Talk about bringing power to the people: eight regional governments in California are in various stages of adopting "community choice" utilities to buy power from the grid in the hopes of cleaning up their energy portfolio.

November 30, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

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.