Under a proposed 25-year solar contact, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would pay record-cheap prices for 400 megawatts of power. But the utility declined to approve the deal after a utility workers' union raised concerns.

"Under the 25-year contract with developer 8minute Solar Energy, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would pay less than 2 cents per kilowatt-hour — a number city officials and independent experts say would be the lowest price ever paid for solar power in the United States," Sammy Roth writes. In addition to 400 megawatts of solar capacity, the project would also include at least 200 megawatts of lithium-ion battery storage capacity so it can continue powering the grid after dark.
But LADWP's Board of Commissioners voted not to send the contract forward to the L.A. City Council after concerns were raised by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 18, a utility employees' union. The exact nature of the union's objection was hard to pin down. The union has opposed parts of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's Green New Deal initiative, including the retirement of three gas power plants that employed over 400 LADWP staff.
"LADWP staff struggled to explain to the Board of Commissioners Tuesday why Local 18 had objected to the Eland project," Roth writes. According to a spokesperson for the union, LADWP "has not complied with its contractual obligations for this deal." LADWP will reconsider the contract again at a September 10 board meeting.
FULL STORY: Los Angeles has lined up record-cheap solar power. But there’s a problem

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

The Quiet Housing Crisis in Rural America
While housing shortages in major cities are grabbing headlines, rural communities are seeing higher rates of growth in housing prices and a silently spreading homelessness crisis.

Skyline-Defining High-Rise Potentially Coming to Boise
A rendering making the rounds in Boise depicts a 40-story apartment building that would be taller than all other buildings in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.

11,000 Housing Units Possible with S.F. Office Conversions, Study Says
A new study by SPUR and the Urban Land Institute’s San Francisco chapter estimates a specific number of apartment units that could be built from vacant office units in the city.

‘Arrested Mobility:’ How Transportation-Related Laws Impact Black Americans
A far-reaching new study highlights the disproportionate effect of biking and walking laws on the mobility of Black Americans.

California Attorney General Wants to Get Serious About Housing
A bill sponsored by the AG’s office would give the state’s top attorney more power to intervene in lawsuits related to the state’s housing laws.
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Kingsville
Princeton Planning
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.