Reports to Congress have suggested a terrorist attack on a minor substation could knock out the whole grid. An infrastructure expert says, "That's a bunch of hooey."
Matt Palmquist at Miller-McCune looks at a report by Seth Blumsack, a power-system expert at Pennsylvania State University, and Paul Hines from The University of Vermont, that explains why this bit of political theater is just plain wrong:
"Their research shows that the most vulnerable points are the ones that have the most energy flowing through them - like huge power stations or highly connected transformers."
Read the full story: Debunking Theories of a Terrorist Power Grab
Building Secure Yet Welcoming Public Spaces
Strategies for securing public spaces from vehicle attacks and other acts of terrorism without sacrificing accessible, vibrant urban places.
Chuck Schumer Proposes Big Investment in Electric Vehicles
The Senate Majority Leader's plan would pump more than $50 billion into direct incentives for consumers, manufacturers, and property owners.
350-Mile Underground Electricity Transmission Line Would Connect Iowa to Chicago
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Jingoli Power, and Siemens Financial Services are pitching underground electricity transmission infrastructure for the midwest.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor
Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
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 Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority