Climate & Resilience: Page 5
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How cities are using Biden’s $4.3B climate pollution reduction grants
The grants “put local governments in the driver’s seat to develop climate solutions,” a federal official said. Cities and counties plan to use the money for electrification, bike-sharing, solar power and more.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 23, 2024 -
New York wants tall commercial, multifamily buildings to test low-carbon heating retrofits
Seven finalists in a $10 million competition will develop heating and distribution systems that can be installed without displacing occupants, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week.
By Nish Amarnath • July 22, 2024 -
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 -
14 attorneys general press FEMA to define heat, wildfire smoke as major disasters
The state officials are the latest to call on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to update its definition of major disasters eligible for federal money as key funds run low.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 19, 2024 -
Boston has a new anti-rat plan. Here are 3 takeaways.
“We’re working to make Boston a home for everyone. Except for rats," Mayor Michelle Wu said as the city released a report by a leading urban rat researcher.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 18, 2024 -
NYC bets big on porous pavement with $32M flood-control project
It's the city's first large-scale implementation of the approach after years of testing different porous pavement products.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 17, 2024 -
FEMA tightens flood resilience rules for federally funded infrastructure
Projects like schools, fire and police stations, sewers, roads and bridges will be affected by the new Federal Emergency Management Agency policy.
By Julie Strupp • July 15, 2024 -
3 strategies to decarbonize transportation: US DOT report
To meet U.S. greenhouse gas emissions targets under the Paris Agreement, the Transportation Department says the U.S. must reduce transportation emissions to near zero.
By Dan Zukowski • July 15, 2024 -
The movement to get neighborhoods off natural gas gains momentum
For years, cities have pursued ways to get buildings off fossil fuels, one structure at a time. Now, some leaders and advocates are eyeing a newer approach: neighborhood-scale decarbonization.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 10, 2024 -
New York City Community Compost program funds restored in FY25 budget
The budget, finalized Sunday, expands the number of organizations the program funds and protects it from future cuts. Certain active and planned composting projects will still be disrupted, however.
By Jacob Wallace • July 2, 2024 -
What US mayors want from the next president, Congress
The creation of a first-ever city mental health block grant, affordable housing investments and gun safety legislation are among the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ requests.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 27, 2024 -
Climate adaptation plan updates released by 20+ federal agencies
For the first time, the plans include a common set of metrics to measure agencies’ progress on climate resilience.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 26, 2024 -
Extreme heat, wildfire smoke belong in FEMA’s major disaster definition, petition says
Despite similar calls from some city officials and federal policymakers, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has said extreme heat does not need to be added to the Stafford Act for communities to get funds.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 21, 2024 -
San Antonio welcomes ‘most automated’ recycling facility in the US
It will have an education and outreach hub that will offer community tours and workshops. “Our goal is to deliver a recycling campus that is without peer anywhere in the country,” said Balcones Recycling’s president.
By Megan Quinn • June 20, 2024 -
Electrifying neighborhoods could save California billions on gas line replacements
Utilities could save around $20 billion in gas pipeline replacement costs by 2045 while only affecting about 3% of current gas customers, says a new analysis prepared for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 20, 2024 -
NY congestion pricing pause already has consequences for infrastructure projects
The region’s transit agency stopped subway extension work that relied on the plan’s revenue. Meanwhile, a final federal approval of the congestion pricing came through.
By Dan Zukowski • June 20, 2024 -
Sponsored by Schneider Electric
Extreme heat driving innovation in municipal heat resilience
How city leaders are demanding proactive strategies for resilience and energy use.
June 17, 2024 -
Local opposition to renewable energy projects ‘widespread and growing’: Columbia University report
The report tracks 395 local restrictions on renewable energy development, with 55 of those emerging in the last year.
By Diana DiGangi • June 14, 2024 -
Congressional Democrats call for ‘cost-effective’ flood resilience strategies
Flooding costs the U.S. up to $496 billion a year, says a new analysis by Democrats on the U.S. Joint Economic Committee.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 14, 2024 -
9 climate resilience job training programs to launch with $60M from NOAA
They will train workers for jobs in conservation, renewable energy, urban agriculture, green infrastructure, emergency preparedness and more, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 12, 2024 -
Transit agency faces $15B funding gap after NYC congestion pricing reversal
“We’re going to fight like hell to make sure we don’t have to reduce service,” Metropolitan Transportation Authority chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.
By Dan Zukowski • June 12, 2024 -
9 senators call for EPA funding to address landfill methane
They want more than $6.7 million to go to states for advanced methane detection technology and $5 million for local governments to develop methane reductions plans at municipally owned landfills.
By Jacob Wallace • June 11, 2024 -
Tax on gas-powered large buildings will go to voters in Berkeley, California
A 2023 court decision that struck down Berkeley’s first-in-the-nation ban on gas hookups in new construction is part of what led to the ballot measure, an organizer said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 10, 2024 -
5 states, DC get $45M to finance energy efficiency retrofits
The revolving loan funds established with the federal awards can unlock millions in private capital for energy efficiency improvements, says the U.S. Department of Energy.
By Nish Amarnath • June 10, 2024 -
Deep Dive
The heat is on. Contractors say they’re ready.
Commercial construction firms aren’t waiting on OSHA’s much-anticipated heat standard to protect their workers.
By Zachary Phillips • June 7, 2024 -
Vermont sends climate change tab to fossil fuel companies
Although the governor allowed the bill to become law, he expressed misgivings about the state's ability to hold oil and gas companies financially accountable for climate change damages.
By Lamar Johnson • June 6, 2024