San Jose, California is considering a plan to require all new private developments to follow strict environmental standards. Builders and developers are opposed and claim the move will be bad for the city as it tries to encourage business growth.
"City council members who joined in unanimously endorsing Mayor Chuck Reed's aggressive new environmental goals a week ago support the idea of extending the 'green building' policy to private development, but they disagree over whether to make it a requirement. Business leaders fear a costly and cumbersome government mandate and say it could chill investment and job growth."
"But Reed, who has cast himself as the "green mayor," believes some environmental building standards are unavoidable - and not necessarily in conflict with his goal of making San Jose more business-friendly."
"The council's rules committee, which Reed chairs, voted Wednesday to have the city administration study the concept and bring recommendations to the council in January. Reed noted that with the state moving aggressively to tackle global warming, future development approvals are likely to involve requirements to reduce pollution and energy use anyway."
"San Jose adopted a "green building" policy for its own construction projects in 2001 and toughened it in March. The policy now requires all municipal buildings over 10,000 square feet to achieve at least 'silver' certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program."
FULL STORY: San Jose considers citywide 'green building' rules

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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