US EPA designates 2 types of PFAS as hazardous substances

The long-awaited move is meant to hold polluters accountable. The Environmental Protection Agency says it won’t focus on enforcement at municipal landfills and water utilities.

By Megan Quinn • April 22, 2024

Air quality data is now widely available, but what should communities do with it?

With air quality sensors now costing as little as $100, some communities are hoping for more federal guidance on how to use them to support decision-making and regulation. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 19, 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

Electric bus, railcar purchases sought by Chicago-based transit authority

The region’s three major transit agencies are hoping $375 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds will usher along their transition to zero-emission fleets by 2040.

By Dan Zukowski • April 17, 2024

Boston teams with climate tech company to map floods as they happen

The low-lying coastal city will use the technology to target alerts, evacuations and post-disaster resources to the neighborhoods that most need the support. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 16, 2024

80 transportation infrastructure resilience projects get $830M from USDOT

The grants are the first of their kind dedicated to protecting surface transportation systems from climate change-driven extreme weather, the agency said.

By Julie Strupp • April 15, 2024

5 ways cities can accelerate EV charger deployments equitably

Seek community input, learn from other cities, reduce regulatory barriers and other ideas from participants in the DOE’s Clean Energy to Communities Program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 12, 2024

DOE awards $27M for communities to plan a clean-energy future

This is the first funding round for the Energy Future Grants initiative, which launched last year to help communities plan for transportation and building electrification, microgrids and solar projects.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 11, 2024

How cities are building out public EV charging infrastructure

As more electric vehicles hit the road, municipalities and property owners are working with contractors to deploy EV chargers at libraries, airports, parks and other sites.

By Joe Burns • April 10, 2024

Rooftop heat pump technologies can save US businesses $5B annually: DOE

A new U.S. Department of Energy program aims to bring higher-efficiency rooftop heat pump technologies to market as soon as 2027.

By Nish Amarnath • April 9, 2024

This city wants to deconstruct buildings to balance climate goals with growth

Tacoma, Washington’s city council recently directed the city manager to propose ways to boost deconstruction and salvage in the community. It may be challenging given that demolition is often cheaper and easier.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 9, 2024

Inside the rise of groundwater-based geothermal heat pumps

The technology, which is cost-effective across 75% of the U.S. landmass and ideal for space-constrained users, could eventually displace utility gas service, proponents say.

By Brian Martucci • April 5, 2024

These 8 nonprofits got $20B from the Biden administration for local clean energy financing. Now what?

The “green bank” funds must be obligated by September 2024 amid efforts by Republican lawmakers to repeal the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 5, 2024

High-priority local actions in Biden’s new plan to slash building GHG emissions

The Department of Energy blueprint lays out specific goals to lower U.S. building emissions 90% by 2050 compared with 2005 levels.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 3, 2024

Utilities must come clean about the full value of community solar

Utilities often oppose customer-driven, third-party-owned energy projects like community solar because they threaten to supplant utility investments and utility shareholder profits.

By Jeff Cramer and John Farrell • April 3, 2024

IRS direct pay framework opens doors for tax-exempt entities to access clean energy credits

The U.S. Treasury Department’s final rule for the program paves the way for organizations to receive more than 30% of a project’s cost in direct cash payments for clean energy investments.

By Brian Martucci • April 2, 2024

New Mexico regulators approve El Paso Electric $11M EV plan, including low-income rebates

The rebate program has a total budget of $200,000 and will be available to 50 customers. El Paso Electric will also offer smart charging programs and incentives for charging equipment.

By Robert Walton • April 1, 2024

Phoenix passes worker heat safety ordinance amid rising deaths

The measure is the result of labor demands and record high temperatures in the city in 2023.

By Ginger Christ • March 28, 2024

What’s stifling city climate action? Municipal finance practices, one report says

The Boston University researchers highlight how city funding approaches make emissions reduction projects easier to move forward than climate adaptation projects.

By Ysabelle Kempe • March 27, 2024

Local government climate coalitions are delivering state policy results

Environmental justice legislation in Colorado and energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in Wisconsin are two recent coalition accomplishments.

By Lindsay Ex and Erick Shambarger • March 26, 2024

To chart its path away from gas, Massachusetts launches energy transformation office

Headed by a former utility executive, the office will convene a task force with representatives from utilities, municipalities, business, labor and the supply chain industry.

By Ysabelle Kempe • March 25, 2024

How 3 large states want to address waste with federal climate funding

Forty-five states and dozens of metropolitan areas submitted priority climate action plans to the U.S. EPA, the first step in accessing Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding.

By Jacob Wallace • March 22, 2024

DC’s downtown revival plan, from office conversions to ‘neighborhood safety centers’

Facing public safety concerns, the possible loss of two professional sports teams and costly office-to-residential conversions, Washington, D.C., officials released highlights of a proposed revitalization.

By Danielle McLean • March 22, 2024

5 tips for building highly utilized curbside EV chargers

Think about EV charger placement and features that provide value to community residents, visitors and business owners, says the president and CEO of EV charging company Volta.

By Brandt Hastings • March 22, 2024

Communities hoping to build disaster resilience request record $8B in FEMA grants

The requested amount is more than quadruple the amount the agency is offering, continuing what FEMA said is an ongoing trend of applications exceeding available funds.

By Ysabelle Kempe • March 21, 2024

What mayors really think about the Inflation Reduction Act

Boston University’s 2023 Menino Survey of Mayors reveals “a fundamental tension” in localities that want clean energy but are reluctant to cede local control to streamline permitting, a report co-author said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • March 20, 2024