Environment

Time for a Federal Gas Tax Holiday?
Senate Democrats introduced legislation to lower gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year. General funds would be directed to the Highway Trust Fund to replace gas tax revenue.

Everglades Restoration To Receive $1.1 Billion in Federal Funds
An 'unprecedented' investment of more than one billion dollars will go toward efforts to restore and conserve the fragile and troubled South Florida ecosystem.

Federal Government Pledges $5 Billion for Electric Car Charging
A $5 billion federal investment will contribute to state efforts to install electric vehicle charging stations along interstate highways and major corridors.

The Kids Are Alright: Montana Youth Lead Climate Trial Effort
A group of teens is taking on the state of Montana, claiming that the state's continued dependence on fossil fuels infringes on their constitutional rights.

Urban Villages for the Proletariat
Compact, walkable urban villages benefit working families and organized labor by creating jobs, improving household affordability, reducing commute duration, improving economic opportunities, and creating cleaner, healthier communities.

Green Infrastructure Thinking for Southern Cities in 2022 and Beyond
Resilience planning requires communities to think of a well planned and maintained tree canopy as a public utility system with multiple benefits.

Challenges to Electrifying City Fleets
Shifting municipal fleets to electric vehicles poses some challenges, but cities can take steps today to prepare for an easier transition to an electric future.

Virginia Law Granting Local Authority for Energy Efficiency Rejected Due to Housing Affordability Concerns
The state preemption pendulum swings again—this time in favor of state preemption of energy efficiency standards in Virginia.

Grid Operator Calls for Two-Year Pause on Solar Projects, Citing Massive Backlog
The largest grid operator in the U.S. is asking for a new approvals process and two-year delay on current applications to ease the logjam of primarily solar projects in its queue.

Legal Battle Heats Up Over the Form and Function of Oregon's Coasts
As Oregon's coastal beaches erode, taking valued public space with them and exposing private property to increased risks from flooding and sea-level rise, some local governments want to allow property owners the right to "armor" the coast.

Electric Intercity Bus Introduced in Santa Barbara
The zero-emissions bus is part of a regional fleet called the Clean Air Express that connects Santa Barbara County towns and employment centers.

How Dealership Laws Hinder EV Sales
Laws designed to protect car dealers against price competition from car manufacturers are, in many states, preventing electric car makers from selling directly to consumers.

The 'Quiet Revolution' of Zero Emission Transit Buses
More and more U.S. transit agencies are rolling out electric buses, and the recently approved federal infrastructure bill could make it easier than ever to buy zero emission electric buses.

Colorado Town Approves Wildfire Management Plan
As Castle Rock faces an increasing threat of wildfires, town officials urge residents to use the recommendations in the plan to eliminate risks and protect their homes against future blazes.

San Antonio Officials Remove Invasive Snails During River Walk Draining
As part of the biannual cleaning of the city's prized River Walk, San Antonio officials removed hundreds of invasive snails from the channel.

Magic Johnson Park to Reopen in February
A much-needed park in South Los Angeles will reopen to the public after undergoing major renovations.

Washington Officials Want to Spend American Rescue Plan Funding on Highway Projects
Despite broader intentions, federal economic relief continues to get redirected to automobile-focused infrastructure.

$50 Billion 'Wildfire Risk Strategy' Targets the Wildland-Urban Interface
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in January announced an ambitious, and only partially funded, new plan to reduce wildfire risks for communities around the United States.

A Toxic Legacy in an Orange County Neighborhood
The contaminated soil and neglected infrastructure in Santa Ana's Barrio Logan community are a result of decades of land use decisions and willful disinvestment, one journalist writes.

World Planning Educators To Meet in Indonesia
The fifth World Planning Schools Congress this coming August, organized on the theme Planning a Global Village: Inclusion, Innovation, and Disruption, will step up cross-border movement of planning ideas and practices.
Pagination
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