Department of Energy

The J.H. Campbell Generating Plant, a concrete building in front of a large body of water.

Federal judge strikes down DOE orders to keep Michigan power plant open past retirement date

The decision is one of the first successful legal challenges to President Trump’s “national energy emergency” ruling, which instructs federal agencies to use emergency powers to increase fossil fuel production.

September 20, 2026 - Grist

Washington State Electric Car Infrastructure

Biden Administration Plans for 500,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

The Biden administration this week took ambitious steps toward a new era of automobile transportation in the United States.

December 15, 2021 - E&E News

Hanford Site

Hanford Nuclear Waste Cleanup Stalls Amid Legal Turmoil

A cleanup of nuclear weapons waste at Washington State's Hanford Site was first outlined in 1989. But now, as state officials wrangle with the federal government, deadlines set in 2016 may still not be met.

June 13, 2019 - The Los Angeles Times

Texas

Border Town Removes Licensing Barrier to Encourage Solar

On the U.S.-Mexico border just west of the Gulf of Mexico, Brownsville looks to take advantage of its sunny territory.

May 11, 2018 - Next City

Solar Power

Solar Power Beats DOE Cost Targets Three Years Early

With a set of 2020 affordability targets met three years early, the DOE can turn its attention to reliability, resilience, and storage.

September 18, 2017 - Quartz

First West Coast LNG Export Facility Gets Critical Federal OK

On Sept. 30, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the final environmental impact statement for a contentious $7.5 billion Liquefied Natural Gas export facility, pipeline, and power plant in Coos Bay, Ore. More approvals are still needed.

October 6, 2015 - Portland Business Journal

Selling the Nation's Strategic Assets to Fund Road Construction

What happened to the "strategic" in the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserves? As Politico reveals, heretofore these oil reserves have only been sold when the nation's oil supply was threatened. Republicans leaders now view the SPR as a cash cow.

July 24, 2015 - Politico

As Solar Energy Scales Up—How Soon until it's Ubiquitous?

As solar power approaches and even surpasses fossil fuels in cost, the next goal is to make the source of renewable energy ubiquitous.

February 3, 2015 - CleanTechnica

Study: 'It's hard to beat gasoline' on Air Quality

A University of Minnesota study published in PNAS looks at alternatives including ethanol and electricity and determined that "it's hard to beat gasoline." Even electric vehicles can do better or worse depending on how utilities source electricity.

December 17, 2014 - AP via ABC News

Red White and Green?

Jeffrey Spivak reports on the federal government's pioneering efforts in net-zero building design and construction.

March 12, 2012 - Planning

Obama Taps Into Strategic Oil Reserve

With the flow of Libyan oil at a stalemate, the President ordered the release of 60 million barrels over the next 30 days to keep the world supply stable and gas prices from increasing.

June 26, 2011 - The New York Times

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.

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.