Biden raises GHG emissions-reduction goal, but experts say Trump ‘hellbent’ on reversing course

“Even though the Trump administration may not lift a finger to deliver on this plan, it sets a north star for what the U.S. should be aiming for,” said World Resources Institute's Debbie Weyl.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2024

‘Smart surfaces’ policy tracker shows how cities boost green infrastructure, solar, cool pavement

Local officials can use the over 450 resources in the tracker to develop their own policies, according to Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Smart Surfaces Coalition.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 20, 2024

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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

GM, ChargePoint partner to deploy 500 ultra-fast EV chargers

The two companies plan to open the charging stations to the public before the end of 2025.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 19, 2024

Washington local governments sue to block builder-supported measure favoring natural gas

Voter-approved I-2066, which prevents the state and local governments from restricting access to natural gas, is unconstitutional, said Seattle, King County and other groups in a lawsuit filed last week.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 19, 2024

The key to successfully deploying heat pump water heaters? Funding innovation.

Small grants allow local organizations to test new technologies and approaches, a vital step in scaling climate solutions. 

By Chris Badger • Dec. 17, 2024

92% of large NYC buildings meet 2024 carbon emission limits: report

Site energy use in buildings over 25,000 square feet dropped for the fifth year in a row, with 43% of buildings set to meet Local Law 97’s stricter 2030 targets, the Urban Green Council says.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 16, 2024

Climate resilience top of mind for Denver as it plans to revamp landscaping rules

Facing prolonged drought and heat, Denver plans rules that may require native grasses, shrubs and trees in new development and some redevelopment projects.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 16, 2024

EPA awards more climate justice grants, but ‘overwhelming’ number of applications to review remain

As Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration approaches, the Environmental Protection Agency says it will not have time before then to award more funds under the Community Change grants program.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 13, 2024

California approves $1.4B to deploy 17,000 EV chargers, hydrogen fueling infrastructure

California has about 152,000 public and shared private chargers installed today, and it expects that number to reach 250,000 in the next few years.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 13, 2024

5 community-scale geothermal systems to be built with $35M from DOE

The projects will demonstrate how communities can leverage energy underground to decarbonize buildings, the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office says.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Updated Dec. 18, 2024

Stepping up to achieve local climate progress despite federal headwinds

As a second Trump administration takes office, state and local action will be among the most effective means of continuing the momentum for clean energy deployment and cost reductions.

By Darren Springer • Dec. 11, 2024

A Michigan city’s ‘sustainable energy utility’ got the green light from voters. What now?

By creating a supplemental utility that will focus on scaling up rooftop solar, battery storage and microgrids, Ann Arbor, Michigan, is taking its clean energy future into its own hands.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 10, 2024

Biden administration releases $849M to fix aging water infrastructure in the West

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding will help boost drought resilience via 77 projects in 11 states.

By Julie Strupp • Dec. 10, 2024

Kansas county sues major plastic producers, alleging deceptive recycling messaging

Ford County, Kansas, seeks damages, cleanup and abatement services from the companies. But defendant and trade association American Chemistry Council called the county’s claims “meritless.”

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 4, 2024

New York makes $10M available for building heating and cooling tech

HVAC manufacturers and building owners can use the funds to develop and demonstrate cold-climate heat pumps as the state aims to reduce buildings' on-site energy consumption by 2025.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 3, 2024

New group wants to help US cities scale up climate-resilient ‘smart surfaces’

Exclusive access to data, funding opportunities and model ordinances to expand cool pavement, green surfaces, porous pavement and solar panels will be among the benefits for the peer learning network participants.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 3, 2024

AI could help cities tackle climate change, but only if it solves ‘real problems’: NYC climate chief

“We don’t need AI or big data to tell us with much greater detail how screwed we are as a city or as a planet,” Rohit Aggarwala said at Cornell Tech’s Urban Tech Summit last week.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 26, 2024

IRS finalizes direct pay rules, increasing access to IRA’s clean energy tax credits

Direct-pay-eligible entities like local governments, public school districts, churches and hospitals will more easily be able to jointly invest in clean energy projects under rules released Tuesday.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 21, 2024

Want a heat resilience ‘blueprint’ for your city? This federal research center can help.

Up to 10 communities will get $10,000 each and technical support to figure out how to fund and prepare responses during heat waves.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 21, 2024

‘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

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