Environment
Drilling, seismic surveys in Alaska would require no environmental review under new Trump proposal
Seismic surveys can scar tundra and disturb wildlife, including female polar bears, and drilling has been known to alter caribou behavior and Arctic migration patterns.
San Diego County to build treatment plant for Tijuana River sewage pollution crisis
The river has carried millions of gallons of untreated sewage into San Diego’s South Bay region.
Patagonia, environmental groups revive old legal fights against new cuts to Utah monuments
White House says Trump ‘rightsized’ Bears Ears.
Google will fund removal of 2000 acres of trees in Oklahoma to save water while building new data center
The company has invested $30 million into projects intended to address Oklahoma’s water shortage.
California lawmakers approve bill that would shield housing, sports arena project from environmental lawsuits
The bill passed the Assembly with 72 votes out of a possible 80 and later cleared the Senate on a unanimous vote.
Trump speeds up environmental review for Alaska oil pipeline
The Bureau of Land Management is also only accepting public comment on the project for 15 days, far fewer than the usual 30 to 60.
Trump aims to give part of Yosemite to private developer
The unprecedented move would be the first time the federal government has given national park land to private developers.
California implements strict new landscaping rules for residents in fire-prone areas
The new rules ban plants within one foot of homes and do not allow landowners to attach wooden fences to their homes.
New NYC ‘sponge’ medians will absorb 5 million gallons of stormwater per year
The project will turn three medians in Queens into green infrastructure designed to absorb stormwater.
Courts order EPA to release billions in climate grants
The grants primarily funded projects aimed at Black, low-income and disadvantaged communities.
EPA to kill law requiring states to inform the public about new data centers
Over 200 advocacy groups and a dozen states have voiced opposition to this change.
122 ‘carbon major’ companies to blame for half of the West’s lost water
A first-of-its-kind study found that “carbon major” companies drained the west of trillions of gallons of water.
Nevada sues feds to block Colorado River cuts
The federal government’s newly released plan for managing the Colorado River’s dwindling water supply could cause Nevada to lose over 70% of its allocated water.
Feds say Arizona, California and Nevada must cut Colorado River water use by 1.25 million acre-feet
The new plan does not apply mandatory cuts to any of the river’s upper basin states.
NYC will add nearly 10,000 acres of ‘urban forest’ by 2040
The city aims to increase canopy tree coverage by nearly 30% to cool streets and decrease heat-related illness.
Even a “best case scenario” El Niño won't fix the West’s drought
While lower basin states may see increased precipitation, increased snowfall in upper basin states is needed to bring sufficient water to the West.
The US Virgin Islands are facing a “drought disaster,” US government declares
Puerto Rico is also experiencing a drought.
The newest state on the virtual power plant frontier: Illinois
The state's "Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act" is the latest jumpstart for the VPP market, which turn individual homes into green energy producers.
Feds look to Great Salt Lake as a source of rare minerals
A new grant is funding the expansion of non-evaportative lithium extraction from the brackish waters.
Maryland county approves first agricultural use of composted human remains
Earth Funeral will grow a forest from human remains that have gone through a “natural organic reduction” process.
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.
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City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
