Environment

Toyota Fuel Cell

Fuel Cell Vehicles Get Surprising Boost from Uncle Sam

The petroleum industry-friendly Trump Administration has awarded $15.8 million to 30 projects that are intended to substantially reduce oil consumption from passenger vehicles.

July 10, 2017 - AASHTO Journal

Oil

Interior Secretary Issues Order to Expedite Drilling on Public Lands

Secretary Zinke's order is part of the "energy dominance" agenda of the Trump Administration to make the U.S. a major energy exporter. The order will reduce the time needed by the Bureau of Land Management to process permitting for new wells.

July 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

Staten Island

New Staten Island Zoning Rules Would Prohibit Most Development in Flood-Prone Areas

An article in Crain's Business New York calls the new zoning rules proposed for neighborhoods in Staten Island a "back to nature" scheme.

July 10, 2017 - Crain's New York Business

Louisville, Kentucky

The Penalty for Fourth of July Fireworks: A Spike in Air Pollution

It's not just the ears of dogs that suffer the consequences of the nation's loudest celebration—it's also our lungs. Louisville provides the proof.

July 8, 2017 - Courier-Journal

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

Lawsuits Slow Progress of California's $17 Billion WaterFix Project

Environmentalists and the fishing industry filed lawsuits just a few days after a massive plan to build tunnels to move water under the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta in California received a green light from the federal government.

July 7, 2017 - The Mercury News

Appeals Court Rebuffs Trump's EPA on Methane Emissions Suspension

In a win for the environment, a D.C. Circuit panel ruled that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt could not arbitrarily suspend the starting date of a landmark Obama rule that would reduce methane emissions from new and modified oil and gas wells.

July 6, 2017 - The Washington Post

Volvo Makes History in Embrace of Electric Vehicle Technology

In a major announcement that could shake-up the auto industry, Volvo Cars declared it will initiate a gradual divorce from autos solely powered by internal combustion in two years. The Chinese-owned company wants to reduce its environmental impact.

July 6, 2017 - The New York Times

Charging Anxiety, Not Price Anxiety, the Biggest Impediment to Electric Vehicle Adoption

California legislators hoping to entice motorists to purchase electric vehicles with more generous rebates or other perks are missing the real obstacle for many consumers, according to a new study on electric vehicle charging.

July 6, 2017 - KPCC

San Bernardino Skyline

One Developer's Idea for Regional Housing Solutions in Southern California

New housing development is off to a slow start in Los Angeles in 2017. Although the city defeated an anti-growth ballot measure, LA is still faced with a number of policy and legal challenges to building an adequate supply of affordable housing.

July 5, 2017 - The Planning Report

Palm Springs

U.S. Conference of Mayors Sets Target for 100 Percent Renewable Energy

The Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors wrapped up in Miami Beach earlier this week, culminating with a display of climate change solidarity.

July 4, 2017 - CleanTechnica

Protest Crowd

L.A. Metro CEO Challenges Trump on Infrastructure Funding

President Trump’s most recent transportation budget is projected to cut transportation spending by 13 percent, potentially undercutting many of Los Angeles' ambitious projects to continue the build-out of a full public transportation system.

July 3, 2017 - The Planning Report

Mendenhall Glacier

Climate Change Having Dramatic Effect on Mountains

The ecology of mountains around the world is changing as summer plants bloom earlier and forests march up hill to newly temperate ground.

July 2, 2017 - Pacific Standard

Metro Buses

Los Angeles Metro Begins Conversion to Renewable Natural Gas Buses

At a June 22 meeting, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board ordered 295 buses that will be fueled with renewable natural gas. An expected purchase of 35 electric buses was delayed until next month's meeting.

July 1, 2017 - NGT News

Climate Change protest

Three Questions to Ask Yourself About Climate Action

Looking for ways to make a difference in advocating for climate friendly policies? Start with three simple questions.

July 1, 2017 - TheCityFix

Seattle

Seattle Tackling Equity Challenges With Global Lens

Seattle is faced with an affordable housing crisis that has led the new Planning & Community Development Director Sam Assefa to look globally for solutions.

June 30, 2017 - The Planning Report

Workers Returning, Carefully, to the Scene of Epic Landslide on the California Coast

Engineers are searching for solid ground along the California coast at the scene of a massive landslide that wiped out California Highway 1 near San Luis Obispo.

June 30, 2017 - The Tribune

Glen Canyon Dam

Climate Change Is Shrinking the Colorado River

Documenting the effects of climate change on the West's most vital source of water.

June 30, 2017 - The Conversation

Indoor Grow Room

As Medical Cannabis Grows, So Does the Space Needed for It

Despite its medicinal benefits, cannabis will negatively impact the environment if we don’t plan accordingly.

June 28, 2017 - Kayla Matthews

Floyds Fork Louisville

Louisville's Sprawl Threatens One of its Last Clean-Running Streams

New subdivision planning and construction is expected to expand the footprint of the Louisville metropolitan area. The question is whether those new developments will protect or harm the beloved Floyds Fork.

June 28, 2017 - Courier-Journal

Rotterdam Maeslantkering

The Dutch: Ready to Export Their Flood Control Expertise

For those who want it, the Netherlands is willing to share the fruits of its centuries-long relationship with the unruly seas. In Rotterdam, lots of local urban solutions are also on display.

June 28, 2017 - The 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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

Top Books

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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.