With a diameter longer than two football fields, a new wind turbine design promises to revolutionize the wind energy industry.

General Electric is testing a massive new offshore wind turbine with the potential to power a town of 12,000 homes, according to Stanley Reed of the New York Times. The machine has a turning diameter of over 200 yards and, in its final design, will be taller than any building in mainland Europe.
Offshore wind technology promises clean, efficient energy production and has grown rapidly in the past two decades as major energy companies look to diversify their offerings. Turbine manufacturers like GE and Siemens Gamesa have been racing to produce bigger and bigger turbines to meet rising demand and get more energy out of each installation. The launch of the outsized GM prototype, which can produce up to 13 megawatts, has jolted the industry, changing the calculations of manufacturers and wind farm developers. Installed in the ocean, the turbines can capture more reliable breezes than on land and will have to contend with fewer challenges from neighboring landowners.
The key to the new turbine's success is the material: a light, strong, and flexible combination of carbon fiber and glass fiber invented by Danish blade maker LM Wind Power, a GE subsidiary. Now that the prototype is operational, GE must figure out how to scale up the manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of the turbines in the marine environment.

Planning for Congestion Relief
The third and final installment of Planetizen's examination of the role of the planning profession in both perpetuating and solving traffic congestion.

Minneapolis Housing Plan a Success—Not for the Reason You Think
Housing advocates praise the city’s move to eliminate single-family zoning by legalizing triplexes on single-family lots, but that isn’t why housing construction is growing.

‘Mega-Landlords’ Threaten Housing Stability for Renters
As institutional investors buy up a larger share of single-family homes, the families renting them are increasingly vulnerable to rent increases and eviction.

How To Sustain the E-Bike Boom: Make Riders Feel Safe
Riders of electric and non-electric bikes alike agree that they would ride more if they felt safer on city streets, signaling a need for an increased focus on bike infrastructure.

Zoning Stands in the Way of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is cheap as ever, but zoning isn’t keeping up with the market.

Mixed Use Could Lower Neighborhood Crime Rates
New research shows areas with a heavy concentration of commercial offices experience 40 percent higher crime rates than neighborhoods that mix residential and commercial uses.
City & Borough of Juneau
City & Borough of Juneau
DMR Architects
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 Redwood City
City of Rohnert Park
City of Hot Springs
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.