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.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians
Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie