Renewable Energy

Solar panels with blurred twilight view of New York City skyline witrh Empire State Building in background

NYC Planning Commission Approves ‘City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality’

The first of three elements of the City of Yes rezoning proposal aims to remove barriers to building green infrastructure.

September 15, 2023 - silive.com

View of red tiled rooftops with solar panels and tall palm trees between houses

City of Vacaville Launches Instant Solar Permitting

A new state law requires cities to take steps to speed up the permitting process for solar energy systems.

September 6, 2023 - Symbium

View from a distance of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on the coast n Japan

How Nuclear Energy Could Impact the Water Supply

Releasing contaminated water into the ocean or other water bodies could have severe, long-term impacts on drinking water supplies and aquatic life.

September 6, 2023 - Governing

Conceptual rendering of Rikers Island redevelopment as renewable energy facility

Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?

New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?

August 24, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Natural gas power plant with two tall smokestacks against blue and purple sunset sky

Energy Reliability Vs. the Environment

A controversial but unanimous vote by California officials last week to keep three older, coastal natural gas power plants operating beyond their termination dates shows that environmental protection takes a back seat to keeping the lights on.

August 22, 2023 - Politico

Solar and Wind Energy

Federal Rule Update to Speed Clean Energy Approvals

A regulatory change at the federal level will shorten the time it takes clean energy projects to gain approval and start providing energy to the grid.

July 31, 2023 - The Verge

renewable Energy

Offshore Wind Power Projects Face Financial Headwind

As offshore wind projects along the East Coast stall, so do the country’s emissions reduction goals.

July 27, 2023 - Politico

Solar panels and wind turbines against sunset colors

San Diego to Install Solar ‘Microgrids’

The self-sufficient energy systems will help the city improve its resiliency during power outages.

July 13, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Wind turbines sillhouetted against a sunset sky along roadway in New Mexico

New Power Transmission Line Approved in the Southwest

The proposed transmission line will transfer wind-produced power from New Mexico to cities in Arizona and California.

May 26, 2023 - U.S. News And World Report

Bird's eye view of parking lot with solar panel canopies

Editorial: California’s Solar Potential Lies in Roadways, Parking Lots

Environmentalists are raising the alarm about massive solar farms in the unspoiled desert. Why not install more solar panels along state-owned highways and in parking lots instead?

May 22, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Renewable Energy

Major Wind Power Transmission Line Approved by BLM

The new power line will connect the nation’s largest onshore wind project to southwestern states.

April 21, 2023 - Grist

Texas Wind

A Sea Change in the Politics of Clean Energy

As renewable energy production grows in Republican-leaning states, lawmakers are becoming less resistant to supporting clean energy policies.

March 10, 2023 - The New York Times

Solar panels on green inclined field on old landfill site in The Netherlands

New Tax Credit Could Boost Solar Energy Production on Landfills

Incentives aimed at brownfield development of renewable energy projects could give momentum to building solar farms on an underutilized property: closed municipal landfills.

March 5, 2023 - Governing

Geothermal heat pump installed on wall next to water boiler

Houston Co-Housing Project to Use Geothermal Heating and Cooling

The development will also include communal kitchens, community gardens, and other shared spaces aimed at bringing neighbors together.

February 28, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

View of empty beach with wooden fishing pier going out into Atlantic Ocean at sunset in New Jersey

New Jersey Offshore Wind Projects Face Opposition

Local critics of Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to install hundreds of wind turbines off the New Jersey coast plan to sue the state to stop or delay the projects, citing aesthetic, environmental, and economic concerns.

February 23, 2023 - Governing

Power lines against sunset sky and snowy landscape in rural Minnesota

Minnesota Utilities to Go Carbon-Free by 2040

If signed by the governor, a new state law would require all utilities in the state to switch to renewable energy within two decades.

February 7, 2023 - Route Fifty

Overhead view of parking lot with solar panel canopies over parking spots and red car driving in

The Slow Growth of Solar Carports

Placing solar panels over parking lots has multiple benefits, but higher costs have prevented their widespread adoption in U.S. cities.

January 6, 2023 - CNET

Power transmission lines surrounded by orange California poppies and silhouette of mountains in background

Why California’s Power Lines Take So Long to Build

The years-long permitting process for new transmission lines is slowing the state’s shift to clean energy.

January 2, 2023 - Governing

Solar panels in a green field

U.S. Renewables To Outpace Coal and Nuclear in 2022

The production of renewable energy in the United States is on track to surpass other energy sources this year, but the nation must maintain record high production levels to meet its climate goals.

November 28, 2022 - Scientific American

Traffic light with green light on and green right turn arrow on

Tampa Pilots Solar Sidewalks

The city is testing solar panels embedded in sidewalks as a backup power supply for traffic lights.

November 23, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.