Environment

Tesla

How Tesla Is Killing California's Electric Car Market

Sometimes market-based systems don't work as intended. This appears to be the case with the California Air Resources Board's program of awarding credits to zero emission and near zero emission vehicles. Tesla's success is bad for the market.

August 21, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Double Trucks

New Rules to Make Heavy Trucks Cleaner and More Fuel Efficient

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation jointly issued final standards on Aug. 16 to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy for heavy duty trucks which currently average about six miles per gallon.

August 20, 2016 - New York Times

Hurricane Katrina

Planetizen Week in Review: August 20, 2016

Climate change dominated the news this week, as flooding wreaked unfathomable havoc on the state of Louisiana.

August 20, 2016 - Planetizen

Chicago River

A Bold Plan to Swim in Chicago's Rivers by 2030

Chicago Mayor Rah Emanuel and the Metropolitan Planning Council announced the "Our Great Rivers" plan this week.

August 19, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Natural Gas

It's Official: Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Exceed Coal

The U.S. Energy Administration confirms a development that first got teased back in April—natural gas is now responsible for more carbon emissions that coal.

August 18, 2016 - State Impact

Electric Cars

Study: Electric Cars Can Handle 87 Percent of Trips

"Range anxiety" is leading some consumers away from electric cars, but their fears are unfounded, according to a new study.

August 18, 2016 - Pacific Standard

Shishmaref

Faced With Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Erosion, an Alaskan Village Votes to Relocate

The village of Shishmaref would be the first town in the United States to decide to move in the face of climate change.

August 18, 2016 - The Guardian

Koala Sign

Urban Design Comes to the Rescue of Dwindling Koala Population

When urban areas intrude into former wildlife habitat areas, animals face challenges moving across busy roadways. In Australia, designers have worked to create passages for koalas to avoid the dangers of speeding motorists.

August 18, 2016 - Phys.org

Louisiana Flooding

This Is Climate Change: Eight 500-Year Storms Since May *2015

The extreme weather events predicted for decades by climate scientists have been on parade in the Southern United States all year. Are we ready to say, "this is climate change"?

August 17, 2016 - The New York Times

Trinity Lake

California's Water Districts Opting Out of Voluntary Conservation

Checking in with the level of participation from California water districts in efforts to conserve water a few months removed from an average rain year once predicted to deliver El Niño-sized excess.

August 17, 2016 - The San Jose Mercury News

Electric Cars

Legislation Will Increase Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate in California

With comprehensive legislation to enable California to continue its powerful agenda of tackling climate change in peril, a Southern California assemblywoman will introduce legislation to tackle the specific issue of sales of electric vehicles.

August 16, 2016 - Digital Trends

Tropical Storm Floyd

New Levee System Protects New Jersey Residents

New Jersey Chris Christie announced the competition of a $143 million levee system in Somerset County. Gov. Christie now hopes that residents can drop flood insurance.

August 16, 2016 - The Record

Port of Morrow

Coal Export Facilities Achieving Zombie Status in the Pacific Northwest

One of the Pacific Northwest's remaining coal export facility proposals was dealt what could be a final blow in state court last week. Some are describing such projects as zombies "shambling forward unaware that their heart has stopped beating…"

August 15, 2016 - The Oregonian

Rescue Efforts Underway as Southeast Louisiana Faces Historic Flooding

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is describing the flooding in Southeast Louisiana as an "unprecedented and historic flooding event."

August 15, 2016 - The New Orleans Times-Picayune

Water Bottles

Good News, Finally, For Flint, Michigan Residents

There's good but guarded news on drinking water. Lead levels are lower, below the federal action threshold, but residents are advised not to drink it without using filters. A federal state of emergency in effect since January was lifted Sunday.

August 15, 2016 - Michigan Radio

163:365 - Green Energy

Federal Agencies to Consider Climate Impacts

A new policy from the Obama Administration asks government to calculate, and attempt to lower, their carbon emissions.

August 15, 2016 - Washington Post

Midwest Flooding

Midwest Cities Preparing for the Water Management Challenges of Climate Change

Climate researchers are hoping to coordinate the efforts of Midwest cities toward creating plans and working toward more holistic approaches to climate change.

August 14, 2016 - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Beijing Skyline

Peak Coal: China's Carbon Emissions Drop as the Use of Coal Slows

In the long struggle to reduce the impacts of climate change, we may have finally hit a positive milestone, as China's use of coal peaked in 2014.

August 10, 2016 - The Guardian

Sacramento

A New Plan for Trees in the 'City of Trees'

The city of Sacramento, California, known as the City of Trees, is nearing the finish line on a heavily debated ordinance to create new regulations for the management of trees.

August 9, 2016 - The Sacramento Bee

California Aqueduct

Future of California's Climate Agenda in Peril

Legislation to reauthorize the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 is in peril due to 'a powerful bloc of business-friendly Democrats' who are uneasy about its impact on businesses, particularly Big Oil, due to higher energy costs.

August 8, 2016 - CALmatters

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.