Energy

Oil

Are Environmentalists Turning Away From Carbon Taxes?

Economics 101: It's difficult to reduce an activity if there's no price attached to it, so why are many environmentalists increasingly turning away from wanting to price carbon emissions?

December 11, 2018 - Politico

Arctic Mining Town

Massive Mine Encroaching on Swedish City

The Swedish city of Kiruna will have to move after one of the world's largest iron mines opens a crack in the earth that is spreading straight for the city.

December 11, 2018 - The Guardian

Carbon Tax

Major Increase in Global Carbon Emissions Projected for 2018

The report from the Global Carbon Project, an international group of scientists who track greenhouse gas emissions, comes as a surprise as emissions had been relatively flat for the last four years. Global emissions this year will increase 2.7%.

December 7, 2018 - The New York Times

Coal-Fired Power Plant

Investigation Reveals the Failures of 'Clean Coal'

As the federal government sends massive subsidies to encourage so-called clean coal technology, coal-burning power plants aren't sending less pollution into the air and into the earth.

December 5, 2018 - Reuters

University of Washington

What's Next After Carbon Pricing Initiative Fails Twice?

Carbon pricing proponents in the U.S. saw their second defeat in two years in the same state when Washington voters soundly defeated I-1631, a carbon fee that would fund emission reductions. Unlike I-732 in 2016, environmentalists were unified.

November 26, 2018 - Grist

Pacific Northwest Shipping

Pacific Northwest Gears Up for Another Fossil Fuel Export Fight

Just two years after killing what would be the world's largest methanol plant at the Port of Tacoma, the project has reemerged at the Port of Kalama. According to the EIS for the plant, global CO2 emissions will be reduced, though increased locally.

November 19, 2018 - The Daily News

Texas Wind

Wind Power Sets a New Record in Texas

Texas doesn't do small, so a new wind power regeneration record must be big.

November 17, 2018 - Houston Chronicle

Oil Pipeline

Federal Judge in Montana Halts Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline

The Trump administration's denial of climate change may serve a political purpose, but in the courtroom, it can prove a liability. A federal judge in Montana took into account the administration's "discarding" of climate science in its ruling.

November 15, 2018 - InsideClimate News

Smart Home

Net-Zero Energy Homes Use Technology to Work With the Energy Grid

A housing development near Tampa will have high-tech smart homes with grid-optimized solar power.

November 12, 2018 - Fast Company

Solar and Wind Energy

Mixed Results on Renewable Energy Initiatives

Two western states had very similar renewable energy initiatives on the ballot sponsored by NextGen America requiring utilities to get 50 percent of electricity by 2030. It passed in Nevada but was rejected in Arizona.

November 8, 2018 - The Arizona Republic

Vote

Election 2018 Results: Local and State Land Use, Transportation, Housing, and Infrastructure

Election results from every corner of the country.

November 7, 2018 - James Brasuell

Spokane, Washington

No West Coast Climate Bloc

Had election results proved favorable in Oregon and Washington, UC Berkley Law Climate Program Director Ethan Elkind suggested that the two states could join California to form a West Coast Climate Bloc. Oregon came through, but not Washington.

November 7, 2018 - Ethan Elkind

Coal Mine

Global Coal Consumption Grows After Three Years of Decline

The rise is attributed to Asian nations, particularly India and China, where coal-power plants are newer than in the West. It shows a growing disconnect between energy and climate goals, warned the International Energy Agency.

November 6, 2018 - Financial Times

Solar Panel on a Wind Turbine

Energy Issues at Stake in New Mexico Land Commission Election

Unlike energy issues that will appear in the form of ballot initiatives on Tuesday in three western states, voters in New Mexico will cast their energy vote in their choice for state land commissioner, an arcane position with considerable authority.

November 4, 2018 - NPR

renewable Energy

Wind Turbines the Size of Football Fields

New offshore windmills are taller and bigger than their predecessors, and they will produce more power.

November 2, 2018 - Vox

Hurricane Sandy New York City Flooding

As Temperatures Increase, Maps Show Sea-Level Rise Will Devastate Cities

Data visualizations illustrate the catastrophic consequences of single-digit global temperature increases.

October 29, 2018 - The City Fix

Rooftop Solar Panels

Solar in Michigan Facing Challenges From Net Metering Changes

New proposals targeting customers could derail solar energy’s future in the state.

October 26, 2018 - Inside Climate News

Carbon Emissions

Prime Minister Trudeau Extends Carbon Pricing Throughout Canada

A carbon tax-and-dividend plan goes into effect on January 1 in the four Canadian provinces that don't price carbon emissions. Revenues will be rebated to residents, small businesses, and public institutions as Climate Action Incentive payments.

October 25, 2018 - Bloomberg News

Old Car Batteries

The Most Carbon-Intensive Component of Electric Vehicles Deserves Attention

It's well known that an electric vehicle is only as clean, from a greenhouse gas perspective, as the electricity it consumes to power it. A new study finds that the electricity used in the manufacturing of car batteries also must be considered.

October 24, 2018 - Bloomberg News

Jiujiang power plant

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue to Decrease in the U.S.

President Trump and his cabinet have been busy rolling back environmental regulations and promoting coal burning, and now they claim credit for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions last year even greater than in 2016.

October 23, 2018 - NPR

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.