China

Zoo

Friday Eye Candy: A Solar Farm Shaped Like a Panda

A solar farm shaped like a panda recently began pumping electricity to the grid in Shanxi province, China.

July 7, 2017 - Inhabitat

Volvo Makes History in Embrace of Electric Vehicle Technology

In a major announcement that could shake-up the auto industry, Volvo Cars declared it will initiate a gradual divorce from autos solely powered by internal combustion in two years. The Chinese-owned company wants to reduce its environmental impact.

July 6, 2017 - The New York Times

Beijing, China

A New Government Planned Mega-City Shapes Up Next to Beijing

Planners for the Xiong’an New Area hope to cure the ills of "megacity disease"

June 10, 2017 - Foreign Policy

China's New Train Doesn't Need Rails, Isn't a Bus

Chinese railcar-maker CRRC allowed the public a glimpse at its new "Autonomous Rail Transit" last week. The ART is more than just a bus.

June 6, 2017 - People's Daily Online

China Bridge

China Exporting its Infrastructure Expertise

China is building roads, tunnels, planning trains and power plants outside its borders to bolster its influence.

May 17, 2017 - New York Times

Driving School

Driving School Operating on the Roof of an Unfinished Factory

A driving school in China was shut down after photos of student drivers cruising around its location (a factory roof) raised concerns online.

May 10, 2017 - Shanghaiist

Electric Cars

EVs Not Exempt From California’s Transportation Infrastructure Plan

Governor Jerry Brown and the California Legislature reached a historic agreement to raise the gas tax, but electric vehicle owners will now be required to pay a yearly fee, Will this impact EV sales in the US's best market?

May 6, 2017 - The Planning Report

Washington D.C. - The White House

Next White House Struggle: Whether to Exit the Paris Climate Agreement

Ending Obama's so-called "war on coal" may go international with the exit from the December 2015 Paris Climate Agreement if EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has his way, but he may encounter formidable opposition from Trump's administration and family.

April 18, 2017 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

Trains Now Connect the U.K. to China

China's "One Belt, One Road" program to create a network of trade routes across Eurasia took a major step forward this week when a freight train bearing export goods disembarked from the United Kingdom bound for China's Zhejiang province.

April 13, 2017 - Railway Gazette

Apartments

China Still Lacking Property Taxes

A growing movement to implement a nationwide property tax in China is meeting resistance from the rich and powerful.

March 22, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Shopping Mall

Are Malls and Streets Destined to Merge?

While much has been made of the suburban shopping mall's decline, successful urban retail spaces are taking their inspiration from the humble city street.

March 21, 2017 - The Guardian

Shanghai

Bike Sharing Leaves Shanghai Drowning in Bikes

Multiple bikesharing companies have put 280,000 bikes on Shanghai's streets, but many are parked in random locations or left unusable on city sidewalks.

March 18, 2017 - Shanghai Daily

Hong Kong Towers

Sand: Another Victim of Global Urbanization

Headlined by vertical (and horizontal) sprawl in China, India, and elsewhere, the global building boom requires vast quantities of concrete and asphalt. And to get those materials, sand must be taken from the environment.

March 8, 2017 - The Guardian

The Forbidden City

Spare the Air: Beijing to Drastically Reduce Coal Use

Beijing promises "extraordinary" measures to reduce pollution in the infamously smoggy city.

February 6, 2017 - Scientific American

Gas Pump

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Might Decline Despite Love Affair with SUVs

Gasoline consumption in the U.S. peaked in 2007, but began climbing in late 2014 with the decline in gas prices. Last year almost set a new record, but increases in gas prices, fuel efficiency and more EVs could reverse the direction—but when?

January 24, 2017 - Oil Price

Jiujiang power plant

China Cancels 103 Coal Power Plants; Still Has Too Much Coal Capacity

The cuts mean that China is on target to meet its coal power generation limit for year 2020. But even with the cancellations, China will have surplus coal power resulting in underutilization of renewable power due to preference for coal by utilities.

January 20, 2017 - The New York Times

Bikeshare Competitor Warned Not to Come to San Francisco

Seattle, which will be losing it's bikeshare program after just over two years, may wish to have San Francisco's problem: a second bikeshare company wants to enter the marketplace, though without permits.

January 19, 2017 - San Francisco Examiner

Henan

iPhone City in Zhengzhou

Foxconn and millions who work at Apple's many suppliers make their homes in Zhengzhou, a place many in China call iPhone City.

January 12, 2017 - The New York Times

Subway Quiz: What Long-Awaited Line Opened Four Days Before the Second Ave Subway?

The 4.6-mile subway operates like some AirTrains in the U.S. that automatically whisk travelers between airport terminals without drivers and with platform screen doors at stations for enhanced safety. Where is the new line located?

January 9, 2017 - South China Morning Post

China High Speed Rail

China Announces Massive High-Speed Rail Investment

China will spend $503 billion on high-speed rail by the beginning of the next decade.

December 29, 2016 - Bloomberg

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.