The District of Columbia is challenging the federal government on climate action, with lawmakers proposing to outlaw a local coal-burning power plant that powers Congress.
A Washington, D.C. city council member has introduced a nonbinding climate resolution, echoing the concerns of 47 other U.S. cities and calling on the federal government to draw on the Clean Air Act to curb carbon emissions, reports Tim Craig. The resolution coincides with recently introduced legislation in the council to prohibit a Capitol Hill power plant, which heats and cools the U.S. Capitol, from burning coal.
According to Tommy Wells, the councilmember who represents the Capitol Hill district, the plant, which is located near several schools and has been connected to sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions, is the last remaining in D.C. that still burns coal.
Eva Malecki, a spokesperson for the Architect of the Capitol, stated that the power plant burns natural gas 92% of the time, but that coal use is reserved for emergency or unsually cold conditions. Although Democratic leaders in the House and Senate pledged to stop the Capitol Hill power plant from burning coal in 2009, their efforts met resistance from coal-producing state representatives.
The District's challenge to the federal government raises questions about the ability of local lawmakers to question federal authority over congressional facilities. The District suffers many loopholes in local law enforcement because of its unique symbiosis with the federal government.
FULL STORY: D.C. Council bills aim for more aggressive action on environmental concerns

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie