Environment

Seattle the Newest 'Urban Bird Treaty City'

A gap in the "Pacific Flyway" has been filled, after the city of Seattle has agreed to protect the migratory routes of birds.

May 15, 2017 - KUOW

Wind

Maryland Positions Itself as Nation's Leader in Offshore Wind Power

In a few years, Maryland is expected to be the nation's leader in offshore renewable wind power made possible by the Public Service Commission's approval on May 11 of credits to two projects by U.S. Wind and Skipjack Offshore Energy.

May 15, 2017 - Planetizen

Massachusetts

Even the Most Energy Efficient Cities Have Room for Improvement

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has released its third biannual City Energy Efficiency Scorecard.

May 13, 2017 - Next City

Montana

The Rapidly Shrinking Glaciers of Glacier National Park

New research reveals the extent of the glacial retreat in the national park named for glaciers.

May 13, 2017 - Climate Central

California State Water project

California Groundwater Difficult to Replenish

After a wet winter, California's historic drought is over for now. But larger stores of groundwater stored in natural aquifers, steadily depleting, will be difficult to refill.

May 12, 2017 - Water Deeply

Methane

Congress Fails to Roll Back Obama-Era Methane Emissions Rule

Current events that have nothing to do with the environment but everything to do with politics might have caused the defeat of a bill to overturn an Obama-era rule designed to reduce methane emissions on federal lands.

May 12, 2017 - The Washington Post

Faucet

Massachusetts Clear of Drought

Massachusetts is showing all signs of a state that has recovered the water it lost during a two-year drought.

May 12, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Stormwater Infrastructure

Using Public Art to Make Sense of Wastewater Infrastructure

The city of San Jose and designers from the University of California, Davis have completed a community-led design process to raise awareness about the connections between the kitchen, sewers, and the environment.

May 12, 2017 - The Confluence

Bird

Galveston Building Causes Bird Massacre

Galveston, Texas stands on the Gulf of Mexico and sits on the path of a number of bird migrations. 395 of those birds were killed Wednesday night striking a single building in the city's downtown.

May 10, 2017 - The Houston Chronicle

Millennium Atoll

When the Waters Are Rising…

Kiribati’s former president Anote Tong faces climate change’s implications head on and see hope, even as islands become an early warning system for the international community.

May 10, 2017 - Cities of the Future

Housing Construction

Making the Case for Wooden Buildings

Is mass timber the new frontier in low-carbon building? The National Building Museum's newest exhibition, Timber City, pays homage to the potential of tall timber structures which have strength comparable to steel.

May 9, 2017 - Doggerel

California Big Sur

The New California Coastal Commission

The commission spent a significant part of last year in the spotlight. Now, its new director is moving ahead on climate adaptation and resilience efforts as a federal policy change looms.

May 8, 2017 - The Planning Report

Coastal Erosion

Tiny Bugs Causing Big Problems for the Vanishing Louisiana Coast

A mealy bug is devastating the cane that holds the land on the Louisiana coast in place. Without the cane, many square miles of land may wash away.

May 7, 2017 - The Washington Post

Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

Study: Greenery Improves Quality and Length of Life

Living near vegetation appears to be linked to a longer life and better mental health—for women, at least.

May 5, 2017 - CNN

play fountain

Beating the Heat (Island Effect) with the Japanese Tradition of Uchimizu

Can a few splashes of water on hot pavement reduce the heat island effect? Researchers find evidence to support a traditional Japanese method of cooling the environment.

May 5, 2017 - The Poetry of Science

Philadelphia Bills on Green Roofs and Electric Cars Show Backwards Thinking

Philadelphia's green roof law allows developers to build 25 percent more units if they put a green roof on their buildings. Councilmember Squilla wants to exempt his district from that law.

May 4, 2017 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

High Point, Seattle

Water-Smart Green Infrastructure: The Private Sector Steps Up

A new Urban Land Institute Report details the increasing implementation of citywide green infrastructure networks, including investments on both public and privately owned sites.

May 4, 2017 - Katharine Burgess

Oil Rig

President Trump Signs Executive Order to Reverse Obama's Coastal Drilling Ban

So much for that so-called "permanent" ban that President Obama enacted by President Obama in December to end oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Ocean and off the central-northern Atlantic coast.

May 3, 2017 - The Washington Post

Louisiana Flooding

On the Bright Side, Rising Oceans Will Send Folks to Texas

A recent study predicts that climate refugees from Florida and coastal Louisiana may disperse to areas around the southeast, with a large number resettling in Texas

May 3, 2017 - Houston Press

Pollution 2

Appeals Court Ruling Favors Trump—Strike Two Against Clean Power Plan

An appeals court on Friday granted the Trump Administration's request to suspend lawsuits on the Clean Power Plan, dealing a major blow against President Obama's signature climate initiative to reduce carbon emissions from existing plants.

May 2, 2017 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

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

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.