Although the United States built less new energy capacity than in the same time period last year, renewable energy dominated the capacity to come online so far in 2014.
According to the Office of Energy Projects at the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission “a full 92 percent of all new capacity added in the United States so far this year came in the form of renewable energy.” In all, renewables totaled all but 91 megawatts of the country’s 1,150 megawatts of new power capacity.
Stephen J. Smith reports on the success of renewables so far in 2014 for Next City, providing a break down of the new capacity: “Solar took home the crown with half of the new capacity, while wind picked up the majority of the rest, with 37 percent of the added capacity. The only major non-renewable source to add capacity was natural gas, which added a measly 90 megawatts of generation capacity.”
New York and California were the states that added the two largest renewable energy projects, but don’t forget that Texas has been busy this month breaking records for wind power generation.
FULL STORY: 92 Percent of New U.S. Power Plant Capacity This Year Came from Renewables

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
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