Environment

Klamath River

Major Dam Removal Proposals Move Forward in California and Oregon

The movement to restore the Klamath River by removing four dams has achieved a major milestone in recent weeks.

October 3, 2016 - KQED

Amsterdam

Tamping Down Urban Heat Islands

As summer temperatures rise and heat waves roll through, cities can take steps to keep cool. But shedding the heat may be difficult for urban areas designed to retain it.

October 2, 2016 - The New Yorker

China Solar

China Cutting Carbon

China turning over a new leaf on pollution and greenhouse gases.

October 1, 2016 - Grist

Planning for a Microgrid: Santa Monica Reclaims Industrial Space for Renewable Energy

Cities throughout California, including Santa Monica, have been awarded research and development funding through the California Energy Commission to plan community-scale microgrid solutions.

September 30, 2016 - The Planning Report

I-5 Widening

Critiquing the $1.9 Billion Project to Widen I-5 in Los Angeles County

Streetsblog slams Caltrans for wasting $1.9 billion on futile freeway widening projects.

September 29, 2016 - LA.Streetsblog

Tuscany

'The Well-Tempered City': An Epic Book, and Why

In a review of Jonathan F.P. Rose's new book, 'The Well-Tempered City,' Chuck Wolfe enthusiastically endorses Rose's refreshing world view.

September 28, 2016 - The Huffington Post

Fund Clean Energy - Stop HRL Coal Fired power station - withdraw federal grant

Clean Power Plan Showdown in U.S. Appeals Court on Tuesday

The Obama Administration's most powerful environmental initiative, the Clean Power Plan, was put on hold by the Supreme Court last February. It was heard by 10 judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. on September 27.

September 28, 2016 - The Associated Press

Chevy Bolt

How Detroit Beat the Silicon Valley to the Breakthrough Electric Vehicle

It costs less than $40,000 and gets over 200 miles to a charge. The Tesla Model 3? Yes, and also the Chevy Bolt, which goes to market first. A New York Times technology columnist writes that 'size matters' when it comes to innovation.

September 26, 2016 - The New York Times - Technology

Aerial views during an Army search and rescue mission show damage from Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast, Oct. 30, 2012.

How to Manage Retreat in the Face of Sea-Level Rise and Nuisance Floods

"Strategic retreat" as a response to rising sea levels isn't an easy sell, but a new report endeavors to make the idea more palatable.

September 24, 2016 - Regional Plan Association

California Transit Agencies Bring Affordable Housing to Scale

From developer incentives to swapping parking for housing units, two transit systems have come up with plans that tackle the region's housing shortage and its economic inequality. What have they agreed to do, and who will hold them accountable?

September 23, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

jetBlue Las Vegas

JetBlue to Reduce Carbon Footprint with Large Purchase of Renewable Jet Fuel

Within ten years, passengers flying on JetBlue out of JFK will leaving a much lower carbon footprint, thanks to a fuel composed of 30 percent biofuel.

September 23, 2016 - The New York Times

corn field in polk county iowa

Big Agriculture Mergers Raising Antitrust Alarms

At risk with industry consolidation like a proposed merger of Bayer and Monsanto, is the environmental impact of the business, along with the financial impact on farmers.

September 22, 2016 - Vox

Getting Raised in Gentilly, Loisiana

Louisiana Dials Back Requirements for Elevating Homes in Flood Areas

Housing market pressures, flood insurance costs, changing FEMA maps, and improved methods of flood control are giving victims of flood damage in Louisiana mixed signals on how high they should rebuild their homes.

September 22, 2016 - The Advocate (Louisiana)

Climate Change Protest

Climate Equity Agenda Key to Passage of California's Climate Legislation

Environmental advocacy is not enough. Environmental and social justice must play a role in California's legislative effort to battle climate change, opine two professors from UC Berkeley and USC in the San Francisco Chronicle.

September 21, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Houston

Lack of Zoning Leaves Houston Neighborhoods Vulnerable to Pollution

Houston doesn't compare well with other cities when it comes to locating polluting industrial uses near residential neighborhoods. Blame the city's lack of zoning, according to new research.

September 21, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Chevrolet Corvair

100 Objects; 100 Ways to Influence Public Health

As the public health and planning professions expand their partnership around the world, consider this list by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health of the 100 Objects That Shaped Public Health.”

September 20, 2016 - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Culvert

Court Ruling Mandates Culvert Improvements in Washington

In the state of Washington, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delivered what some are calling the "most important ruling on treaty fishing rights since 1974."

September 20, 2016 - Crosscut

Minneapolis Riverfront

The ASLA's New Guide to Resilient Design

The American Society of landscape Architects is promoting a new guide to resilient landscape design, which examines hundreds of case studies for examples of infrastructure that works with nature, instead of against it.

September 20, 2016 - ASLA The Dirt

Why Don't Environmentalists Support Washington's Carbon Tax Measure?

A largely revenue-neutral carbon tax proposal, similar to the carbon tax in British Columbia which began in 2008, qualified for the November ballot in Washington. Environmentalists and Democrats, not Big Oil, may cause it's defeat.

September 19, 2016 - Crosscut

landfill

The Value of Garbage Has Changed Dramatically

Recycled metals, plastics, glass, and other materials are more economical than ever. Welcome to a new era of waste management.

September 19, 2016 - Quartz

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.