Environment
Fuel Industry Incites Fear of CA's Low Carbon Fuel Standard
"You think 50 cents in one week is bad - wait till the state adopts the Low Carbon Fuel Standard", warns one critic, predicting increases three times as much. The regulation was devised by the CA Air Resources Board to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Plan to Heal Baltimore's Harbor Encounters Opposition from Officials
A local marina owner's plan to build a floating marsh in Baltimore's Inner Harbor to help clean up the city's main tourist attraction is being viewed skeptically by officials, who have raised a number of questions and concerns.
Chicago Unveils Greenest Street in the Country
Along a nondescript street in Chicago's gritty West Side, a 1.5-mile stretch of a "historic, industrial artery" has been given a futuristic makeover as the greenest street in the country, and perhaps the world, reports Lori Rotenberk.
Do Oil-Exporting Nations Have an Obligation to Mitigate Climate Change?
Norway takes this responsibility seriously. Not only will it double its carbon tax, in existence since 1991, but it will use revenues to invest in renewable energy and food security in the developing world while expanding its own oil exploration.
Setting a National Standard for Measuring GHG Emissions
It's hard to believe that in the decades since the impact of greenhouse gas emissions were first recognized, no standard for measuring and calculating emissions has been developed. The introduction of the Community Protocol intends to change that.
LA Densification Must Offer Suburban-like Amenities
Joe Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, embraces the suburban, private yard-quality to Los Angeles living in an interview with The Planning Report, emphasizing the need to balance densification with open space.
Gas Price Spike Was Uniquely Californian
During the first week of Oct, gas prices were falling through much of the country while spiking an unprecedented 50 cents in CA due to some unique circumstances - bad air requiring a unique fuel blend and a 'perfect storm' of refinery mishaps.
Will a Brooklyn Superfund Site Become the Borough's Next Hot Nabe?
On-again, off-again, and now back on-again plans to redevelop the polluted area between two of Brooklyn's most affluent neighborhoods have the residents of Gowanus divided on the direction of their gritty community.
New Software Helps Visualize a City's Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Ever wonder how the greenhouse gas emissions of your home compare to your neighbor's, or the supermarket down the street, or the office tower you work in? New software helps visualize such information in three dimensions across an entire city.
CA Gasoline Tradeoff: More Smog For Lower Pump Prices?
The news of the escalating gas prices was ubiquitous - local media news reports led with gas station prices that had risen 20-50 cents overnight, or stations that had closed early for lack of gas. Finally, Gov. Brown acted to alleviate the 'crisis'.
How Swiftly Could Romney Gut Federal Environmental Protections?
John M. Broder looks at the obstacles that stand in the way of Mitt Romney's campaign pledge to “take a weed whacker” to a variety of federal pollution and public health rules.
CA High Speed Rail Opponents Ask For Preliminary Injunction In Central Valley
With federal and state environmental clearance and with funds allocated, the main obstacle to laying track in the Fresno-Merced route is an environmental lawsuit to be be heard April, 2013. Two county farm bureaus ask that work cease until then.
The Limits of Wind Power
A new study by the Reason Foundation evaluates wind power and finds that wind power is limited in practice due to the increased need for power storage, the decrease in grid reliability, and the increased operating costs.
Urban Agriculture in the Sky: Hong Kong's Farming Boom
In one of the world's most dense cities, urban agriculture finds its place on the rooftops of Hong Kong buildings. Fears of tainted imports is spurring much of the growth.
Will Vancouver Lose It's Farming Mojo?
Vancouver has the most farmland and farmers in North America. However, as Vancouver booms, the thriving agricultural belt that surrounds Greater Vancouver is at risk from an expanding city.
Sustainability Moves into Chicago's Backyards
Chicago's backyards may turn into oases of sustainability with a new program aimed at creating incentives for 'greener' practices in the city's private gardens.
Will Development Squeeze the Life Out of Queens' Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Shaped by two World's Fairs, the long-neglected, but intensely used, park is targeted for redevelopment. City officials plan for a new mall, a soccer stadium, and more parking, upsetting some in the local community.
Do You Smell Cigarette Smoke?
Smoking is physically harmful to smokers and non-smokers alike, but what about its impact on public space? Nate Berg reports on a new paper in Urban Studies based on interviews in Singapore -- where smoking has been regulated since 1970.
Comprehensive Plan Needed for NYC's Urban Agriculture
With 700 urban farms and gardens in New York City, a new report calls for a comprehensive approach to managing the city's urban agriculture, and offers recommendations for maximizing coordination between city agencies and urban farmers.
Climate Change Planning Pits Cities Against State in California
As the state modernizes its infrastructure, concerns of continued coastal erosion and future sea-level rise raise questions of where to place key infrastructure.
Pagination
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Planning for Universal Design
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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont