China is building roads, tunnels, planning trains and power plants outside its borders to bolster its influence.
"Chinese money is building power plants in Pakistan to address chronic electricity shortages, part of an expected $46 billion worth of investment," Jane Perlez and Yufan Huang reports for The New York Times. This is just one of a myriad projects that will total a trillion dollars in spending, on infrastructure outside of China. "President Xi Jinping of China is literally and figuratively forging ties, creating new markets for the country’s construction companies and exporting its model of state-led development in a quest to create deep economic connections and strong diplomatic relationships."
After decades of fast growth, China has the capacity to produce more steel and concrete than they need, so they're taking that expertise and capability and using it to fuel what their officials have called globalization 2.0. "Mr. Xi is rolling out a more audacious version of the Marshall Plan, America’s postwar reconstruction effort," Perlez and Huang write.
Read the full story: Behind China’s $1 Trillion Plan to Shake Up the Economic Order
25 states, cities sue the EPA over erased power plant emissions limits
The coalition also intends to sue the EPA for not regulating emissions from gas-fired power plants.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Waymo’s Ojai robotaxis from China now able to pick up all riders
Steep tariffs and tight federal laws haven’t stopped Waymo from purchasing over 3,200 vehicles from Zeekr, a Chinese manufacturer.
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.
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.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
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