Historically, green initiatives come about as responses to energy crises, but are abandoned when oil prices drop and the economy busts. This time around, though, that's less likely to happen.
"Some proponents of renewable energy believe the time is right, regardless of the economy or the price of gas. And they believe that forces are in place - domestic and global pressures - that will lead at last to greater energy independence."
"The wind, solar and geothermal industries 'are growing by leaps and bounds' around the world, says Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute, a nonprofit Washington-based organization dedicated to a sustainable future.
'This transition we are seeing,' Brown says, 'is going to keep going. Sure, it will be slowed by economic situations, including the drop in oil prices. But when we get a new president, there will be a need for jobs. And this is where jobs are going to be - in alternative energy, everywhere from smart grids to wind farms.'
Energy technology, he says, is labor intensive. 'It's going to be what information technology was when it was booming." Brown believes that the U.S. will be able to export the goods and services created by the green boom.
He adds, 'Whereas in the past, alternative energy was viewed as a temporary phenomenon, I don't think most people now see it as temporary.'"
FULL STORY: Can U.S. Go 'Green' Even When Oil Prices Drop?
Beyond the Backyard Garden: Urban Agriculture
Thanks to industrialized agriculture, there’s a wide gulf between those who produce food and those who consume it. Too many city-dwellers lack access to nutritious, non-processed foods. Dave Steel thinks that urban agriculture is the key.
Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience
Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.
From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions