‘We’ve been here before’: What Trump’s win could mean for local climate action

City leaders are preparing for a president who has cast doubt on the scientific consensus around climate change and threatened to rescind unspent Inflation Reduction Act dollars. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 20, 2024

New York City Employees’ Retirement System joins UN investor alliance committed to net-zero emissions

The nation’s largest municipal public retirement system joined the United Nations-backed Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, committing to transitioning its investment portfolio to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 18, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Thermal energy networks can decarbonize neighborhoods. Meet the US cities giving them a shot.

With federal dollars, cities want to leverage heat from waste sources and the ground to move buildings away from burning fossil fuels on-site.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 18, 2024

Automation, efficiency upgrades at Minnesota zoo could save city up to $1.8M over 3 years

Groundwater-based geothermal heat pumps and building automation systems are among the changes at St. Paul's Como Park Zoo, which a city official said accounts for about 25% of total energy use among city properties.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 15, 2024

Local decarbonization, energy efficiency projects get over $17M from DOE

The “highly flexible” grant program allows communities to pursue a broad range of projects, from home energy efficiency rebate programs to workforce training initiatives, according to the Department of Energy.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 15, 2024

Boston requests new waste and recycling ideas ahead of 2027 contract expirations

Collection and disposal, waste prevention and recycling, data and analytics, and policy and behavior change are among the topics for which the city wants input. It reupped many existing contracts to buy more time to craft RFPs.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 14, 2024

State infrastructure ballot initiatives see mixed results

Approved bond funding and climate resiliency-focused state ballot measures could provide new ways for municipalities to fund improvements.

By Joe Burns • Nov. 13, 2024

Facing a historic drought and wildfires, New York City officials take action

New York City residents are experiencing climate change risks that they are “not used to seeing,” Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 12, 2024

Trump taps former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead EPA

The Trump administration will likely roll back EPA regulations affecting fossil-fuel power plants, said the president and CEO of a trade group for owners of coal-fired plants.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 12, 2024

Heat pumps could save these Texas households money, reduce grid strain: ACEEE

The state should focus on deploying heat pumps in homes that currently use inefficient electric resistance heaters, say the authors of a paper from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 11, 2024

Trump agenda has states, advocacy groups girding for legal battles

California, New York and Illinois are among states readying to sue the Trump administration over divisive issues such as reproductive rights, climate regulation and immigration.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 11, 2024

How tech can optimize snow removal for successful winter operations

Operational efficiency for snowplow fleets is a priority for keeping roads safe and accessible, helping drivers under all weather conditions, and saving taxpayer dollars.

Nov. 11, 2024

New York City official backs composting over codigestion, citing environmental justice concerns

Residents across New York City are now putting their organics into curbside bins for collection. But where those organics will be processed continues to be up for debate.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 8, 2024

Trump win is ‘setback’ for climate protection, but clean energy advocates say progress will continue

“Most U.S. state, local, and private sector leaders are committed to charging ahead,” said Dan Lashof, U.S. director of the World Resources Institute.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2024

Heat mapping program opens 2025 applications, offering financial and technical support

Applications for the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring program are due in January, but communities that express interest by Nov. 15 can get paired up with a mentor community.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 4, 2024

Low-carbon district energy system launches in a Washington city’s waterfront neighborhood

The system, which captures waste heat for districtwide heating and cooling, is expected to help the buildings served meet Washington state energy code requirements, the Port of Bellingham says.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 31, 2024

Storms send sewage into Chicago waterways. The city hopes a new green infrastructure plan can help.

As climate change increases the city's rainfall, Illinois is requiring Chicago to revamp a decade-old plan for stormwater management with equity in mind.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 31, 2024

New York unveils daily wildfire risk map

As dry weather fuels brush fires in the state, officials and researchers launched a data tool they say will get critical information to the public and firefighters more quickly.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 29, 2024

Phoenix cool pavement study shows technology tradeoffs

The reflective coating is more effective in certain urban areas than others, Arizona State University researchers said in a report prepared for the city.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 28, 2024

How US cities are investing in green infrastructure

The nation’s largest city is spending millions on porous pavement while communities in the Midwest are greening neglected alleys to mitigate flooding.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 24, 2024

California’s first carbon capture and storage facility gets local approval

The decision follows heated debate among community members about the project’s economic and health impacts.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 24, 2024

Food waste responsible for 14% of US methane emissions, report finds

The top solution for addressing food waste-related methane is centralized composting, says a report issued by ReFED with the support of the Global Methane Hub.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 21, 2024

What does it take to decarbonize a manufactured home community?

A community-scale retrofit project in Colorado offers a path toward lowering power bills for a population that faces high levels of energy insecurity.

By Leslie Nemo • Oct. 18, 2024

EV owners can store more energy from the grid with GM Energy’s new ‘PowerBank’

The stationary energy storage unit can provide power to a home during an outage or help offset higher electricity rates during peak times. 

By Eric Walz • Oct. 17, 2024

13 green infrastructure projects get $60M across New York

The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton is a reminder of how urgent resilience investments are, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 17, 2024