Energy

W-S_125_pipe_yard

Feds Approve New Natural Gas Pipeline Despite Corruption Probe

Federal regulators approved a pipeline critical to a natural gas power plant currently embroiled in a federal corruption investigation.

May 19, 2016 - Politico New York

Methane

EPA Releases Final Methane Rule for New and Modified Oil and Gas Wells

While the methane reduction targets are the same as the draft rule released last August (i.e., 40-45 percent reduction of 2012 levels by 2025), the new rule removes exceptions, resulting in a 30 percent improvement in reductions of methane.

May 18, 2016 - The Hill

An Update on President Obama's 'Better Building Initiative'

A press release and fact sheet about the accomplishments of the Obama Administration's "Better Building Initiative" includes three new national programs designed to improve the efficiency and resilience of the built environment.

May 12, 2016 - The White House

Oil

Interior Department Secretary Jumps Into Fossil Fuel Debate

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell expressed a surprisingly pro-industry viewpoint in response to the growing "keep it in the ground" environmental movement.

May 9, 2016 - The Desert Sun

Pumping Gas

Gas Delivery Straight to Your Vehicle. What Could Go Wrong?

Cities and fire departments around the country are struggling with the sudden explosion of start-ups promising to make your life easier by delivering gasoline straight to your vehicle.

May 5, 2016 - Bloomberg

Oil Rigs

Report Details Strategies for Energy States to Weather Booms and Busts

Some states relied more on the most recent energy boom than others, and some prepared more for the inevitable bust. A report by the Brookings Institution recommends actions for energy states to build resilience in the face of boom and bust cycles.

May 4, 2016 - Governing

Ford Headquarters

Ford Plans New Headquarters for a New Century

Following the example of much newer corporations in Silicon Valley, the Ford Motor Company is planning a $9 billion new campus in Dearborn, to be built over ten years.

May 3, 2016 - The New York Times

Coal Railroad

Feds Finally Kill $400 Million Tongue River Coal Railroad Proposal

The unraveling of the coal industry, as exemplified by the demise of Arch Coal, was on display again as federal regulators put the final nail in the coffin of a proposed coal railroad.

April 27, 2016 - Billings Gazette

Paris Climate Agreement Signed, but Troubles Loom in the U.S.

On Earth Day, NPR looked at the intersection of the Paris Climate Agreement, which Secretary of State John Kerry signed at the U.N. on Friday, and President Obama's Clean Power Plan which has been given a pause by the Supreme Court.

April 23, 2016 - NPR

One Million Solar Panels and Counting

The United States reached a milestone in solar panel installation earlier this year, after 40 years of the industry attempting to gain a foothold. Now the industry is preparing for "warp speed."

April 22, 2016 - greentechmedia

Port of Tacoma

Plans for World's Largest Methanol Plant Die in Tacoma

The massive and controversial Tideflats methanol plant proposal will no longer trouble environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest.

April 21, 2016 - The News Tribune

Oil Drills

All Jokes Aside: Do Oil Companies Avoid Wealthy Areas?

Environmental justice alarms sounded when an oil industry executive made public remarks about how drilling sites get selected.

April 19, 2016 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

HUD's Resilience Revolution

The United States Housing and Urban Development agency is utilizing new ways to empower communities to become resilient ones. The agency's National Disaster Resilience Competition is one way they are helping cities around the U.S. achieve just that.

April 19, 2016 - Doggerel

Methane Emissions Replace CO2 Emissions— Is This Progress?

For the first time, electricity generated from burning natural gas will surpass coal, largely due to fracking of shale. While that means that carbon dioxide emissions will continue to drop, it also means that methane emissions will increase.

April 17, 2016 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

Using Highway Medians for Carbon Sequestration

Americans are thinking about undeveloped land alongside and between roadways as a low cost and widely dispersed strategy for carbon sequestration

April 15, 2016 - EarthTalk

While Commodities Sink, Solar Power Rises on Farmland

Some of the nation's new clean energy capacity is being built on land that formerly grew crops. The sun, quite literally, is worth more than peanuts.

April 14, 2016 - Bloomberg

Coming to Grips With Post-Coal Reality in Wyoming

The state of Wyoming made billions in tax revenues off the coal industry. But after waves of layoffs, those left in the state are asking: What's left of those revenues for workers?

April 11, 2016 - WyoFile

Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline

Plans for Massive Oil Pipeline to Philadelphia Taking Shape

Oil industry representatives have coalesced behind a plan to connect Philadelphia with the Marcellus Shale region with a large new pipeline. A recently completed conceptual plan for the pipeline is intended to build political support.

April 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Klamath River Dam Removal Moves Ahead Without Congressional Approval

A lack of Congressional approval almost killed a controversial dam removal project on the Klamath River in Oregon and California. The states and the Interior Department have found a way to proceed.

April 7, 2016 - Associated Press via The Register-Guard

Coal Industry: Down but Not Out

It's easy to focus on the shrinking market share and layoffs in the coal industry and see the demise of the industry, but construction of new coal burning power plants is still booming in countries like China and India.

April 5, 2016 - Vox

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.