Renewable Energy

Two yellow pipes for natural gas or oil agains ta backdrop of snow

The Big Divide Between Big and Little Oil on the New Climate-Energy Law

President Joe Biden signed what he called “one of the most significant laws in our history” last Tuesday. The energy provisions in the law that benefit oil and gas extraction exposed different perspectives within the industry on the law.

August 22, 2022 - Bloomberg News

Offshore wind turbines in water against a sunset sky

Offshore Wind Gaining Support in More States

States traditionally resistant to renewable energy are passing legislation to ease the way for offshore wind production as lawmakers realize the potential economic benefits to their states.

August 4, 2022 - Governing

Close-up of person holding receipt with grocery store shelves in background

The Local Causes of Inflation

Although it is widely seen as a national issue, decisions made at the local level often have a stronger impact on inflation than federal policies.

August 2, 2022 - Vox

Coal-Fired Power Plant

Report: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reductions Not Hitting Paris Agreement Goal

The United States is making modest gains in the power and transportation sectors, but emissions in the industrial sector are holding steady, absent new reduction initiatives.

July 15, 2022 - Rhodium Group

A diagram of funding programs for the The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), including clean energy, workforce training, regenerative agriculture, and innovation.

Funding Urban Climate Justice

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund stands out as an example of local grassroots climate action—in this case, the kind of action that makes other climate projects and programs possible.

June 7, 2022 - Joan Fitzgerald

Factory Emissions

Study: Cutting U.S. Emissions by 50 Percent This Decade Is Possible

With coordinated effort at the local, state, and federal levels, the United States could meet its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.

June 7, 2022 - Berkeley Lab

Worker standing between solar panels on roof

Rooftop Solar Hampered by New York City Fire Code

Requirements in the NYFD fire code make it costly and difficult to achieve the city’s solar installation goals.

May 26, 2022 - Grist

Urban Solar Power

Zoning Stands in the Way of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is cheap as ever, but zoning isn’t keeping up with the market.

May 19, 2022 - Popular Science

Wind turbines and solar panels against a backdrop of mountains in the Mojave Desert near Palm Springs, California

Renewable Energy Powers Entire State of California—for a Few Minutes

Last Saturday afternoon, thanks to a combination of high production and reduced consumption, California’s power needs were met almost entirely by renewable energy sources.

May 5, 2022 - USA Today

Aerial view of Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

How Renewable Projects Are Threatening a Crucial Carbon Sink

The sprawling Mojave Desert plays a key role in carbon sequestration, storing around 10 percent of California’s carbon. But the fragile ecosystem is threatened by large-scale renewable energy projects.

April 25, 2022 - Mojave Desert Land Trust

Floating offshore wind turbines

Proposed Offshore Wind Project Could Be the West Coast’s Largest

If approved, the plan to build a 2,000-megawatt facility off the coast of Washington State would be a milestone for floating offshore wind production in the United States.

April 12, 2022 - Energy Wire

Solar panels in a green field

Local Opposition Threatens to Cripple Solar Expansion

A bevy of real and unfounded claims against solar farms is feeding a growing opposition movement in rural areas.

April 8, 2022 - Reuters

Energy Use

U.S. to Help European Union Achieve Energy Security

President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Brussels the formation of a joint task force to help the European Union reduce dependence on Russian energy in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

April 3, 2022 - Euractiv

Texas Wind

Renewable Energy as a Political Issue

Texas leads the country in wind energy production, but it, and other conservative states, continue to resist efforts to promote the switch to renewables.

April 3, 2022 - The Atlantic

Texas Wind

Outdated Electric Grid Could Hamper Texas Transition to Renewables

Although Texas easily has the potential to phase out coal with the renewable energy projects in the works around the state, its aging transmission lines and outdated infrastructure could delay the transition.

March 25, 2022 - Fortune

View from the summit of Hazard Peak in Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, California

Chumash Tribe Opposes Offshore Wind in Proposed Marine Sanctuary

Environmentalists decry the proposed wind farm as harmful to the fragile ecosystem of the Central California coast.

March 24, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati To Electrify Municipal Fleet by 2035

The city of Cincinnati will beef up its efforts to shift to renewable energy starting next week with electric police cars, fire trucks, and other city vehicles.

March 18, 2022 - Cincinnati.com

Rocky Mountains

The Kids Are Alright: Montana Youth Lead Climate Trial Effort

A group of teens is taking on the state of Montana, claiming that the state's continued dependence on fossil fuels infringes on their constitutional rights.

February 10, 2022 - NBC News

Solar Installation

Grid Operator Calls for Two-Year Pause on Solar Projects, Citing Massive Backlog

The largest grid operator in the U.S. is asking for a new approvals process and two-year delay on current applications to ease the logjam of primarily solar projects in its queue.

February 8, 2022 - Inside Climate News

Solar Power

Solar Farm Moratorium to End, Despite Local Concerns

Delaware County plans to amend its solar zoning ordinance and lift a moratorium on the construction of new solar farms that was implemented after local opposition stalled the project.

January 27, 2022 - The Star Press

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.