In the most significant decrease since 1949, carbon emissions in the U.S. fell 7% in 2009. Sadly, part of the falloff is the result of the economic crisis.
On the upside, sustainable energy initiatives are actually working.
From Fast Company: "One of the biggest factors in the CO2 drop: a 4.3% drop in the carbon intensity of the energy sector due to increased use of renewables and natural gas production efficiency improvements."
Read the full story: Good News of the Day: U.S. Carbon Emissions Dropped 7% in 2009
Boulder Votes to Make Its Own Power
Last week, Boulder, Colorado voters approved the idea of firing their power company in favor of generating their own.
Denmark's Energy Efficient Poster Child
The Danish island of Samso is the poster child of clean energy. Its residents generate more energy than they consume. Now the Danish government wants to export that model back to the mainland.
NYC Congestion Pricing Revenue Will Fund up to 1,000 Hybrid Refrigerated Trucks
Traffic to the Hunts Point Produce Market causes increased rates of asthma in surrounding neighborhoods.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
Trump is considering data centers on 6 states' public land — some state officials say they had no idea
If the administration approves the proposed projects, data center and data center-related developments will cover 17,600 acres of public land.
After decades of planning, Sacramento gains new light rail station
Trains will arrive every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak hours.
Massive tunnel-boring machine breaks ground on Gateway Project
The Trump administration revoked funding for the project in October 2025, and then restored it earlier this year.
Airo trainsets begin service on Amtrak Cascades route
The trains feature panoramic windows, complementary wifi and over 300 seats per train set.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello