Federal support for offshore wind projects is helping the industry grow, with nine projects approved so far this year.

In a piece for Sierra magazine, Sarah Giltz and Nancy Pyne highlight the growth of the offshore wind industry in the United States. “Today there are enough offshore wind projects moving forward to power nearly 5 million homes,” Giltz and Pyne write.
According to the authors, a new plan from the Department of the Interior “increases transparency and predictability and creates greater regulatory certainty for offshore wind,” while other federal agencies are also working to develop policy recommendations and modernize renewable energy infrastructure. “By 2030, offshore wind is expected to create 77,000 family-sustaining jobs, support thousands of small businesses, and inject hundreds of millions of dollars in local communities.”
The authors emphasize the need for project labor agreements to ensure that the industry provides stable, high-quality jobs. “It’s clear that partnerships are key as developers, unions, conservation organizations and communities work to build this new industry together. Collaboration will be essential to build on the current momentum and ensure the offshore wind industry creates good jobs and provides real benefits to local communities.”
FULL STORY: Offshore Wind Development in the US is Reaching Gale Force

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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