Can a Democratic governor in a state controlled by a Republic legislature achieve meaningful emissions reductions from the state's energy utilities? North Carolina Governor Gary Cooper is trying.

James Bruggers reports on the changes in North Carolina in since January 2017, when Governor Gary Cooper took office:
After replacing a Republican who questioned whether climate change was caused by human activities, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has testified before Congress on North Carolina's sizable climate challenges and unveiled a draft clean energy plan designed to put the state on a path toward eliminating carbon emissions from the power sector by mid-century.
The state's Republic legislature has forced Governor Cooper and allies on matters of climate policy to seek short-term wins and work-arounds, however.
The example that informs Bruggers's reporting centers around Duke Energy, the biggest utility in the state, which has developed solar power for use in the state but still largely relies on coal and natural gas. A clean energy plan championed by Governor Cooper would require Duke to go further in reducing emissions from electricity generation.
Here's where the "work-arounds" referenced by Bruggers comes in. Should legislators balk at Cooper's clean energy plan, it's becoming evident that state regulators could decide to clamp down on Duke's emissions anyways.
In addition to detailing some of the initial actions of the state in siding with the governor and pressuring Duke to target more aggressive carbon emissions reduction, the article also includes a lot more detail on the components of the governor's clean energy plan.
FULL STORY: A Southern Governor's Climate and Clean Energy Plan Aims for Zero Emissions

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

When Sears Pioneered Modular Housing
Kit homes sold in catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Ward made homeownership affordable for midcentury Americans.

Starting in 2026, You Can Charge Your EV at Waffle House
The 24-hour chain infamous for brawls and, to a lesser extent, waffles plans to install fast-chargers at many of its locations.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate
The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.
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 Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions