Climate & Resilience
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Robust community engagement good for locals, renewable energy developers: Berkeley Lab
In a first-of-its-kind survey, wind and solar developers cited community opposition and strict local siting ordinances as leading causes of project delays and cancellations.
By Brian Martucci • Sept. 6, 2024 -
(2024). "South Dade Transit Operations Center - Video Rendering of the entire facility - March 24, 2024" [Video illustration]. Retrieved from Miami-Dade County/YouTube.
20-acre electric bus operations center under construction in South Florida
The "largest all-electric bus maintenance and transit operations center" in the U.S. will be home to 100 articulated 60-foot buses, a county official said.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 4, 2024 -
OSHA sets late December comment deadline for extreme heat standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rule would require employers to develop heat injury and illness prevention plans, among other actions.
By Ryan Golden • Sept. 4, 2024 -
30 neighborhood decarbonization pilots allowed under bill passed in California
If the governor signs it, the legislation will let natural gas utilities planning to replace old gas pipelines decarbonize pilot areas instead.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 4, 2024 -
Retrieved from FHWA.
Low-carbon materials a ‘huge opportunity’ to green the transportation sector
The U.S. Department of Transportation is releasing $800 million for state, local and other agencies to reimburse builders for using cleaner construction products, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.
By Julie Strupp • Sept. 3, 2024 -
Cooling is expensive, and more federal assistance is needed, advocates say
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is “chronically underfunded,” argues a policy brief by the Natural Resources Defense Council and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 29, 2024 -
What to know about BERDO, Boston’s building performance standards law
While many buildings already meet 2025 emissions limits, facility managers and owners should start planning now for how they’ll meet future requirements, city officials say.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 28, 2024 -
State, local building energy codes get makeovers with over $240M from US DOE
Nineteen states and localities, including Seattle and New York City, got grants announced Tuesday by the Department of Energy. The agency encouraged more communities to apply by Sept. 13 for a second round of funding.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 28, 2024 -
Cities assert tenants’ right to cooling in a warming world
Grappling with fatal heat waves, local governments are passing laws that make landlords provide working air conditioning. Financial and other challenges remain, however.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 27, 2024 -
Q&A
Will New York City make landlords provide air conditioning? Its climate chief is optimistic.
Coordinating any such mandate with the city's building decarbonization law requirements could reduce the burden it might create for building owners, Rohit Aggarwala explained.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 26, 2024 -
Sponsored by Dow
Resilient renewable infrastructure needs reliable materials
Expand the possibilities of long-distance renewable energy transmission with the right materials.
Aug. 26, 2024 -
Seattle libraries get $5.5M for air conditioning in FEMA grant offered post-pandemic
The city is betting on the upgraded facilities to serve as cooling and clean-air centers to protect residents from the rising danger of extreme heat and wildfire smoke.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 23, 2024 -
2 California commuter railroads implement zero-emission trains
Caltrain and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority join other commuter rail lines in replacing diesel-powered trains with battery, electric or hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 22, 2024 -
Focus on heat illness intensifies after death of Baltimore sanitation worker
In the wake of the death of Ronald Silver II, a city employee, labor groups are calling for more heat safety protections — and fast. Pending state and federal heat standards could help.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 22, 2024 -
Deep Dive
An air conditioning law, the first in its region, changed tenants’ rights in this Maryland county
Montgomery County began requiring landlords to provide AC in 2020 amid climate concerns and renter complaints. Despite a shaky start, officials say things are going smoothly now.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 22, 2024 -
Urban forests are ‘critical but underfunded.’ A report looks at how to fix that.
Carbon credit programs, revolving funds and partnerships with conservancies could provide some of the money needed to prevent these green spaces from degrading, the Natural Areas Conservancy says.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 21, 2024 -
Municipal pools are popular, but they come at a price for cities
Cities tout the numerous benefits public pools provide. As costs to maintain, operate and staff them grow, however, funding strategies become increasingly important.
By Karen Kroll • Aug. 21, 2024 -
Composters add pickup services for hard-to-recycle items, addressing gap
The small, independent haulers are partnering with recyclers in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and elsewhere to divert materials.
By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 20, 2024 -
More efficient electric vehicles can reduce grid stress, cut charging costs by almost a third: ACEEE
Local governments can leverage registration fees and subsidies to encourage EV efficiency, says research published Tuesday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2024 -
Deep Dive
Should tenants have a right to cooling? More cities say yes amid record heat.
As rental cooling standards pop up around the country, experts warn that they aren’t a perfect solution to the rising danger of scorching temperatures.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 20, 2024 -
With 10 new climate resilience centers, DOE aims to translate research into local action
Researchers will work on actionable science and tools to help local stakeholders combat extreme heat, flooding, drought and more, the U.S. Department of Energy announced last week.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 19, 2024 -
Disaster-struck communities now have more time to apply for FEMA resilience grants
Tight application deadlines were a barrier to accessing grants, state, local, tribal and territorial governments told the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 16, 2024 -
(2022). "Las Vegas heat tabletop exercise" [Photograph]. Retrieved from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The US has its first national heat strategy. Here’s what to know.
Relatedly, the Biden administration launched a competition for communities to plan simulated heat emergency drills. Winners will get at least $20,000 each.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 15, 2024 -
Large, stationary trash bins for buildings’ waste are coming to New York City streets. Are they the right fit?
As the city inks an up-to-$7 million contract, zero-waste advocates and landlord groups are frustrated by a proposal to require small residential buildings to use individual bins for waste collection.
By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 13, 2024 -
EPA unveils labels for green construction materials
Materials that earn the label will be listed in a central, publicly accessible registry, making it easier to identify and purchase them, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
By Julie Strupp • Aug. 12, 2024