The decision vacates a USDOT rule that would have required states to establish emission reduction plans.
A U.S. District Court judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) does not have the authority to issue a recent emissions reduction rule, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive. The lawsuit was brought by the state of Texas. “In a separate lawsuit a group of 21 states filed in Kentucky, the Federal Highway Administration agreed to extend the deadline for states to submit initial CO2 targets and reports until March 29, 2024.”
The argument hinges on Congress’s rejection of a GHG performance measurement when the infrastructure law was first developed, thus “making the Administration’s rulemaking an unlawful attempt to circumvent Congress and force this one-size-fits-all burden upon every state and community across the country,” said Representatives Sam Graves and Rick Crawford in a statement.
Steven Higashide, director of the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, says the rule “adds basic transparency to transportation planning processes that can be hard to understand, and it’s disheartening to see any states fight to make the process more opaque.”
FULL STORY: Texas court strikes down federal rule requiring states to monitor and set targets for highway GHG emissions
Data Center Emissions Far Outpace Tech Company Claims
In-house data centers owned by several major tech companies likely produce over six times as many greenhouse gas emissions as their owners estimate.
How Zoning Affects Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As the urgency of the climate crisis increases, a paper in the Notre Dame Law Review argues that increased density is not a universally effective strategy to reduce emissions and that different strategies are needed for low-carbon places versus high-carbon ones.
HUD Announces Grants for Efficiency Retrofits in Multifamily Housing
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Only Two US Metro Areas Are Affordable for Homebuyers
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When ‘Prioritizing All Modes’ Is a Lie
In many cases, it’s impossible to prioritize the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users without sacrificing some speed.
Great Album Covers with Urban Planning Themes
Album covers that evoke urban themes.
Musk ‘Supercomputer’ Raises Water, Power, and Pollution Concerns in Memphis
The facility, which was completed in just 122 days, was rushed through so quickly, it is still missing environmental permits and infrastructure needed to ensure it doesn’t put stress on the grid or local water supply.
School Drop-Off Traffic Is Causing a Congestion — and Social — Crisis
School drop-off lines are becoming longer and more isolating than ever.
Extraction on Tribal Lands Contributes to State Coffers
A recent investigation reveals that profits from oil, grazing, and other uses on state-managed tribal lands are funding off-reservation public institutions.
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.
City of Riverside
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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