The Marcellus Shale boom has inspired some in Philadelphia to imagine their city as the "next Houston"—if it can attract the businesses and infrastructure to bring oil and gas in for the benefit of a homegrown manufacturing economy.
Patrick Kerkstra interviews Phil Rinaldi, the CEO of Philadelphia Energy Solutions and the "public face" behind plans to position Philadelphia as a global "energy hub."
According to Kerkstra's explanation of the plan, "Rinaldi proposes constructing a new, very big pipeline, with enough capacity not just to supply existing demand (which is how pipelines usually get built) but future demand as well. He imagines companies with high-energy needs moving to the city in big numbers, both driving up demand for gas and creating jobs." (For a more complete background on the energy hub idea, see an article by Kerkstra from September.)
The interview delves into the likelihood of the energy hub idea coming to fruition, which, Rinaldi makes very clear, begins with the construction of a pipeline into the city. So far, according to the interview, the idea of building a pipeline has not proceeded as far as route planning, so there's still a long way to go.
FULL STORY: The Energy Hub Architect Talks Politics and Plausibility

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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