Technology

Aerial view of Claifornia aqueduct with green orchard on one side.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy

California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

April 3, 2025 - Turlock Journal

Colorful blocky apartment building facade.

Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software

Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.

April 1, 2025 - Stateline

Silver electric BMW car parked in driveway of home in Oakland, California.

Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers

Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.

April 1, 2025 - City of Oakland

Close-up of small brown mushrooms growing in soil and moist green moss.

Harnessing the Power of Fungi for Environmental Cleanup

Mycoremediation — the use of fungi to break down or absorb environmental pollutants — offers a promising, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods for restoring contaminated sites.

April 1, 2025 - ecohustler

Close-up of Hybrid logo on back of silver Toyota sedan.

Toyota’s Hybrid Popularity Outpaces Production Worldwide

Soaring global demand for Toyota's hybrid vehicles is straining the automaker’s supply chain, leading to widespread delays as component shortages and limited production capacity challenge its ability to keep up.

April 1, 2025 - Reuters

Colorful murals on exterior of Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California against night sky.

Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools

The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Green Schools Symposium brings together educators, students, and experts to advance sustainability in schools through innovative design, climate resilience strategies, and collaborative learning.

March 31, 2025 - Los Angeles County Office of Education

Two white and red Stadler electric Caltrain trains next to each other on a sunny day.

Which US Rail Agencies Are Buying Zero-Emissions Trains?

U.S. rail agencies are slowly making the shift to zero-emissions trains, which can travel longer distances without refueling and reduce air pollution.

March 30, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Cars parked and plugged in at an EV charging lot in Santa Monica, California surrounded by palm trees.

EV Chargers Now Outnumber Gas Pumps by Nearly 50% in California

Fast chargers still lag behind amidst rapid growth.

March 28, 2025 - Inside EVs

Row of double-headed street lights against orange sunset sky.

How Smart Street Lights Can Help Cities Achieve Sustainability Goals

Switching to energy-efficient LEDs and using tech to program when and how street lighting operates can save cities millions in electricity expenses and bring down carbon emissions.

March 27, 2025 - Cities Today

Close-up of person changing battery on black electric bike outdoors.

Jersey City Program Offers Battery Swaps for Electric Bikes and Scooters

Residents can swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones as well as charge and park their devices at two pilot sites.

March 27, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up on 45 mph speed limit sign with part of Golden Gate Bridge visible in background, San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Turns On California’s First Speed Cameras

The city is the first in the state to use automated traffic enforcement to reduce speeding and traffic deaths.

March 25, 2025 - KQED

Lava visible in crater with steam coming out in Hawaii.

Can Geothermal Energy Fuel Hawaiʻi’s Future?

Gavin Murphy, a New Zealand-based consultant with experience in indigenous-led geothermal projects, argues that Hawaiʻi is poised to achieve energy independence and economic growth by respectfully developing its untapped geothermal resources.

March 24, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Close-up on charging port for electric cars.

Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California

California now has 48% more electric vehicle chargers than gasoline nozzles, reflecting its rapid shift toward clean transportation and aggressive zero-emission goals despite federal pushback.

March 24, 2025 - Inside EVs

White and blue hybrid electric public transit bus in San Jose, California.

Beyond Congestion Pricing: Strategies for Revolutionizing Urban Mobility

How cities are leveraging data and technology to improve their transportation networks and reduce traffic.

March 24, 2025 - Timothy Menard

Orange sign with white "Electric vehicle charging only" sign outdoors with tree in background.

10 States Follow Through on Promise to Put 3.3 Million EVs on the Road

Rebate programs are at the heart of collaborative success.

March 20, 2025 - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Close-up of electric bus being charged with portable charger.

Zero-Emission Bus Fleets Grow, But Federal Funding Is in Jeopardy

Transit agencies around the country have purchased over 7,000 zero-emission buses, but a federal program that funds the shift could be eliminated under the new administration.

March 17, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Park pond at sunset with Los Angeles skyline in background.

Expanding Green Spaces in Greater LA: Challenges and Solutions

Creating parks and open space in L.A. County requires overcoming land scarcity, high costs, and other challenges through strategic partnerships, innovative multi-benefit designs, and policy reforms to ensure equitable access and sustainability.

March 17, 2025 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Aerial view of Stowe, Vermont, small rural town with tall church steeple and forest and mountains in background.

New Data: Rural Remote Workers Concentrate in Recreation Hubs

Remote workers flock to ski towns, hiking spots and other popular recreation hubs.

March 13, 2025 - The Daily Yonder

White self-driving Waymo vehicle on street in Phoenix, Arizona.

Is Infrastructure Ready for Autonomous Vehicles?

Assessing the readiness of current infrastructure for autonomous vehicles to understand the challenges and necessary adaptations for seamless integration in urban environments.

March 13, 2025 - Devin Partida

Screenshot of robot with fox and bird in The Wild Robot animated movie.

A Lone Voice for Climate: How The Wild Robot Stands Apart in Hollywood

Among this year’s Oscar-nominated films, only The Wild Robot passed the Climate Reality Check, a test measuring climate change representation in storytelling, highlighting the ongoing lack of climate awareness in mainstream Hollywood films.

March 10, 2025 - The Hollywood Reporter

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.