New York's Clean Energy Standard, if approved, would mark the first time a state put a price on carbon emissions.
Scott Waldman writes: "By adding a nuclear component to the Clean Energy Standard, the Cuomo administration has recognized nuclear plants as another essential tool in reducing air pollution, one worthy of state incentives."
Waldman expects the New York Public Service Commission to approve the Clean Energy Standard [pdf] in early August, in effect "[forcing] utilities to purchase power from nuclear plants through zero-emissions credits." According to Waldman, some estimates predict "[b]illions of dollars, perhaps more than $8 billion, will go to nuclear reactors…"
But the support for nuclear is only part of the story. Some of the same environmental groups that worked to close California's last nuclear reactor in recent weeks "told POLITICO New York on background that they could not oppose a plan that gave unprecedented support to clean energy." Unprecedented is right: "The deal means New York is among the first states to put a price on carbon, to enact a policy that recognizes the social cost of fossil fuels, such as their role in creating climate change."
FULL STORY: Cuomo nuclear plan blunts criticism by combining with renewables
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
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.