New legislation is expected to seek greater federal control over the siting of electrical transmission lines, a move lawmakers hope will ease the creation of a "smart" electricity grid.
"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today signaled that energy policy will be a major focus for Congress in the next months, announcing plans to introduce a bill later this week that would give the federal government greater authority in siting electrical transmission lines around the country."
"Modernizing and expanding the transmission system is essential to expanding renewable energy generation and reaching the renewable portfolio goals outlined by President Obama and many congressional leaders. But any expansion means building new transmission lines, a move sure to reignite debate about how much authority the federal government should have when it comes approving new lines. Previous attempts to expand the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have been unsuccessful due to concerns on the part of state regulators about eminent domain -- essentially, the government's power to seize land."
"A 2005 law granting FERC some greater authority to intervene in transmission line disputes hasn't been used successfully to date, and just last week a federal appeals court ruled against the agency after they attempted to intervene and move forward on a 190-mile high-voltage power line in upstate New York."
"The economic recovery package that President Obama signed last week set aside $11 billion dollars for transmission upgrades, evidence of increased interest building a national, smart grid."
FULL STORY: What the FERC
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
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Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.