Energy

Benchmarks: Places on the Move Measure Up

All Planetizen readers should read the full 200-page Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2016 Benchmarking Report. If you haven't taken the time yet, Hazel Borys shares some of the best bits.

March 29, 2016 - PlaceShakers

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Up, Oil Production Down

Gas prices are on the rise, though they will remain well below 2014 levels through this year. U.S. oil production dropped by 600,000 barrels from last year, while gas consumption is on track to break the 2007 record thanks to cheap gas and more SUVs.

March 28, 2016 - The New York Times

Canada Ready to Renegotiate Critical Columbia River Treaty

The U.S. and Canada have come to an agreement that it's time to renegotiate a treaty that governs the management of dams and water along the Columbia River—one of the largest rivers on the continent.

March 27, 2016 - The Tyee

China High Speed Rail

U.S. Won Space Race but Lost High Speed Rail Race

The U.S. ranked 19 out of 20 for countries with high speed rail service according to a new survey by GoEuro.

March 27, 2016 - Grist

Wind Powered New Energy Construction in 2015

The overhaul of the U.S. energy grid is already well underway.

March 25, 2016 - Fusion

Voltage Transformer

Alternative Infrastructure: Electrified Roads

The concept is no different from trains travelling along a charged track. While any real-world implementation is a long way off, the TEV team is building a trial road for a lower estimated cost per mile than traditional highway.

March 21, 2016 - Bloomberg Business

Mapping the World's Nuclear Plants

Although the prominence of nuclear power diminishes with each disaster, a map of the world's nuclear power portfolio has offers plenty of information for analysis.

March 17, 2016 - CarbonBrief

Coal Mining and Power Station

Hillary Clinton's Surprisingly Blunt Message to Coal Workers

The message was so atypical for a politician wooing votes. "We'll put coal miners out of business," Hillary Clinton warned the audience at Sunday night's Democratic Town Hall in Columbus, Ohio, giving credence to President Obama's "War on Coal."

March 15, 2016 - Courier-Journal

Denied: Proposed LNG Export and Gas Pipeline in Oregon Rejected by FERC

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied a contentious $7.5 billion Liquefied Natural Gas export facility, pipeline, and power plant in Coos Bay, Ore., which had received environmental clearance.

March 13, 2016 - The Oregonian

President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau Agree to Reduce Methane Emissions

Climate change was front and center at a Thursday morning joint press conference at the White House, where U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to several energy, environmental, and Arctic initiatives.

March 13, 2016 - Los Angele Times

Miami-Dade Reports Leaking Wastewater from Turkey Point Nuclear Plant

The bad news for Biscayne Bay is the latest in a string of bad news for the Turkey Point nuclear plant.

March 12, 2016 - Miami New Times

Another Coal Project Bites the Dust

Arch Coal's plans to develop a mine in Otter Creek Valley, east of Billings, is the latest casualty in the death throes of the coal industry.

March 12, 2016 - Bozeman Daily Chronicle

California State Senate Reacts Quickly to Air Management Board Shakeup

New Republican majority of SCAQMD voted to adopt oil industry-backed emissions rules on refineries and other major pollution sources

March 10, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Bill to Phase-Out Coal Power Advances in Oregon

A bill to phase out coal-powered electricity by 2030 is advancing in the legislature. It would also double the state's renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2040 for Oregon's two largest utilities.

March 1, 2016 - Think Progress

Bio Gas Installation Cows

Renewable Biogas Can't Compete with Cheap and Plentiful (Fossil) Natural Gas

Unlike Europe where renewable energy is heavily subsidized, very few biogas projects that convert farm waste to energy using anaerobic digesters are being built in the U.S. State incentives are instrumental due to high capital and maintenance costs.

February 25, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal - Business

Oroville Drought

Report Tallies the Damages of California's Drought

Electricity costs in California have risen more than $2 billion from October 2011 to September 2015, according to a new report studying the effects of California's historic drought.

February 17, 2016 - KPBS

Are State Rebates Necessary for Electric Vehicle Sales?

Campaigners for the Sierra Club's electric vehicle initiative make the case that New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo needs to offer a state rebate of $2,000 to $4,000 to make EVs more attractive to car buyers now that he's phasing out coal power.

February 17, 2016 - Sierra Club Compass

Could This Heating Technology Revolutionize the U.S. Market?

Michelle Robb, Director of Product Planning at Mitsubishi spoke to Alex Ulam about VRF, or air source heat pump technology, and how it can fit into the American built environment context.

February 17, 2016 - Doggerel

How Antonin Scalia's Death May Affect the Paris Climate Accord

Scalia's death means that the Supreme Court is left with eight remaining judges. In the case of a tie vote, the decision from a lower court is upheld with some restrictions. A tie vote on the Clean Power Plan may be good news for the environment.

February 16, 2016 - Vox

Oil Rigs

North Dakota's Oil Boom Falters

As oil prices dip to around $30 a barrel, fears are setting in that North Dakota's oil fields have been overdeveloped. If the current boom goes bust, these towns might find themselves nearly empty.

February 15, 2016 - New York Times

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.