The Global Warming & Energy Committee of the Sierra Club chapter in Silicon Valley decide to highlight the excessive permitting charges of some local cities... and results happen.
"A survey by the Sierra Club this fall of the permit fees that cities in the region charge residents to install solar panels on their homes already is resulting in lower fees.
In the past two weeks, at least three cities -- San Mateo, Morgan Hill and Los Altos Hills -- have moved to dramatically reduce solar fees as a result of the survey and subsequent coverage of it by the Mercury News and other news outlets."
From Executive Summary:
"This study compares the progress of 40 cities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Benito counties in making PV more affordable to homeowners. The goal is to determine a reasonable ceiling for permit fees and to encourage permitting authorities to lower fees that are unreasonably high."
Thanks to Stan Van Velsor
FULL STORY: Cities slash solar permit fees

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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Planning for Universal Design
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