Some recent studies show that the winds are slowing in the U.S., but others say it is speeding up. Regardless, variable winds could have a great impact on the wind power industry.
Research over 30 years shows a decline in wind speed of up to 1% in the Midwest and northeastern states, but flawed wind measurement technology may be more to blame than climate change or urban development.
"If average wind speeds really were to decline, it could affect urban areas that rely on the wind to disperse air pollution. Farmers would also see less ventilation of their crops, which could cause added heat stress on the plants. It would also mean that estimates of wind power potential would have to be scaled back (one recent study found that an extensive network of land-based wind farms potentially could supply more than 16 times the current U.S. power consumption)."
FULL STORY: Are America's Winds Taking a Breather?
Washington Tribes Oppose Wind Project
Tribal communities claim that a major wind energy project threatens sensitive cultural and environmental resources.
California’s Shift to Renewables: Successes and Challenges
The state aims to run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.
Rural Areas Benefiting From Wind Energy Revenue
For some rural districts, tax revenue from wind energy projects can have a major impact on local school districts and infrastructure.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.
Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events
Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”
Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan
The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)