Energy

Cross-Laminated Timber

Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand

Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.

November 28, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Dakota Access Pipeline

Nebraska Commission Authorizes Keystone XL Pipeline, But With a Major Twist

TransCanada got its second wish. Last March, President Trump reversed President Obama's rejection of the 1,136-mile pipeline to carry Alberta oil sands crude. On Monday, the Nebraska Public Service Commission OK'd a route, but not the one it wanted.

November 21, 2017 - The Washington Post

Donald Trump

Host Nation Reveals Embarrassment as Climate Talks End

It's not so easy weaning itself from dirty coal power, one reason why Germany likely won't meet its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction targets. But they will have plenty of company, though all targets are voluntary.

November 21, 2017 - The New York Times - Climate

Goods Movement

Tesla's 'Badass' Electric Semi Beats Diesel and Rail, Says Elon Musk

Tesla introduces a high-performance, totally electric, semi-autonomous truck that that can haul 80,000 of freight for 500 miles without recharging.

November 20, 2017 - Vox

Dakota Access Pipeline

Keystone Pipeline Leaks Oil in Advance of Crucial Decision on Sister Pipeline

Thursday's massive oil spill in South Dakota is not a good omen for TransCanada for a favorable decision on Monday on an application before the Nebraska Public Service Commission on the routing of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

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

Wind

Offshore Wind Lands on Lake Erie

By 2019, a multi-million dollar project developed by a former "big energy" guy might make Cleveland the new U.S. leader in renewable energy.

November 17, 2017 - Next City

Power Plants

China's Climate Change Paradox

President Xi Jinping wants China to replace the U.S. as the world's leader in fighting climate change, yet emissions from China are projected to increase at a higher rate than any other major emitter, according to the Global Carbon Project.

November 16, 2017 - The New York Times.

Rome Cargo Bike

The First Year-Round UPS Bike Delivery Route Arrives in Pittsburgh

The electric bicycles appeared in Portland last year, but Pittsburgh will get the company's first dedicated non-truck delivery route.

November 15, 2017 - Pittsburgh City Paper

Tulsa Arkansas River

How Tulsa Beat Flooding Without Saying 'Climate Change'

An oil town in a red state proves we don't have to talk about climate change to adapt to it.

November 9, 2017 - Governing

Automated Vehicles

The Great Transportation Wormhole: Are We Ready for Autonomous Vehicles?

Transportation planners are on to something big and, for the most part, they are keeping it to themselves. The future is a relatively small fleet of shared, electric, self driving vehicles, and it's coming fast. Are we ready?

November 7, 2017 - Dave Biggs

Tesla

Electric Vehicle Sales Would Take a Hit With GOP's Tax Cut

The House GOP tax plan, which Trump wanted to name the "Cut, Cut, Cut" bill, was intended to cut taxes, but it's also cutting credits, like the federal $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit. How much would its elimination affect EV sales?

November 6, 2017 - The Hill

Sacramento

Sacramento Plans to Spur Clean Fuel Industry with 'Green City' Initiative

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg hopes that an infusion of EV funds can jumpstart a new, clean economy in the city.

November 4, 2017 - The Planning Report

Washington

Washington Gets Its Marine Spatial Plan

The Pacific Northwest's competing and sometimes conflicting stakeholders have created a master plan for the use—and also the preservation—of marine resources.

November 3, 2017 - Sightline Institute

Proterra Electric Bus

Electric Transit Becoming the New Norm in California

Electrification is at a tipping point in California, expanding into the heavy-duty sector with the buy-in of transit agencies across the state.

October 31, 2017 - The Planning Report

Power Lines

The High Cost of Burying Power Lines

With speculation that downed power lines and exploding transformers may have caused California's most deadly and destructive wildfires, many question why utility companies don't bury these lines through fire-prone areas.

October 27, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Electric Cars

The Future of the Nation's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

People won't drive electric vehicles much differently than they drive gas powered vehicles. That means charging infrastructure will be needed in communities to supply electricity for many short drives.

October 26, 2017 - Infrastructure USA

Northern California Wilidfires

Wine Country Wildfires Put Spotlight on Transmission Lines

No cause has yet been attributed to California's deadliest wildfires, but the connections to fallen power lines and exploding transformers, maintained by PG&E, have been exposed in a series of reports by the Bay Area News Group.

October 23, 2017 - The Mercury News

Wood Fire Smoke

California to Implement Wood Smoke Reduction Program

The program is voluntary, providing incentives to replace older, uncertified wood stoves for cleaner replacements or alternatives. In addition to decreasing air pollution, it reduces emissions of a "super climate pollutant," black carbon.

October 21, 2017 - California State Senate

Coal Railroad

Spokane Voters to Decide Whether to Regulate Oil and Coal Trains

Proposition 2, the Safer Spokane Initiative, would require railroads to reduce health and safety risks posed by certain types of oil and coal trains traveling through specified parts of the city or risk being fined.

October 21, 2017 - The Spokesman-Review

Ivy Covered Green Building

Comparing the Environmental Impact of Building vs. Buying a Home

Which is better for the environment: buying an existing home, inefficiencies and all, or paying to build a new home with all the bells and whistles of green building technology?

October 13, 2017 - Kayla Matthews

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Comprehensive Bikeway Design Workshop

Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University

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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

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