Plans are bubbling for a "solar city" in the Arizona desert -- a new town for more than 300,000 people that will be largely powered by solar panels.
"The prospective 33,000-acre development will include housing for 300,000 people as well as high-tech and commercial schemes."
"The town will export energy to the grid in the daytime but will have to import it at night as solar panels cannot produce electricity when the sun is down."
"It is thought the project will produce energy through a combination of photovoltaic (PV) panels on houses and solar farm technologies, where heat from the sun is used to generate steam and drive a turbine."
"Questions have been raised about the suitability of solar technology to the area, where intense heat and dust cut the lifespan of a PV panel to about half its normal length. But it is thought to be the only renewable option in Arizona, where there is little wind or water."
FULL STORY: Arup to design world’s first ‘solar city’ in Arizona

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

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Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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