In announcing a new initiative led by ULI and the Greenprint Foundation, Ed McMahon looks at the disconnect between politicians and the marketplace in the debate around climate change and U.S. energy policy.
When Congress recently passed a measure barring the U.S. Department of Energy from enforcing a ban on incandescent lightbulbs one of its major opponents was the lighting industry.
In December, Maine Governor Paul Le Page, a member of the Tea Party, signed an executive order banning the use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standards in state-owned buildings. However many of the state's top companies and institutions have already constructed high-performance buildings utilizing LEED standards.
Anyone see a disconnect? Ed McMahon, writing in Urban Land does:
"The U.S. Congress has done virtually nothing to address the growing problems of climate change and energy consumption, but industry is not waiting for the politicians. Whether it is the lighting industry or the real estate industry, successful companies have realized that going green makes both business and environmental sense. In the future, it seems certain that the market will ultimately favor the greenest buildings in the greenest locations in the greenest cities."
FULL STORY: The Greening of the Real Estate Industry

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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