Climate & Resilience: Page 8


  • A crane demolishing a house
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    temmuzcan via Getty Images
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    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 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
  • smart city, smart cities Explore the Trendline
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    jamesteohart via Getty Images
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    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
  • Two people on a residential rooftop drilling solar panels in
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 April 5, 2024
  • Aerial shot of buildings in dense urban setting
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    AerialPerspective Works via Getty Images
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    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 April 3, 2024
  • A technician connects cable on a solar rooftop array.
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    Wichien Tep via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    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
  • Two workers in hardhats and high-vis vests install a solar panel on a roof.
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    ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images
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    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
  • Electric vehicles at an EV charging station.
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    EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via Getty Images
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    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
  • Aerial shot of a highway alongside a billboard that reads 1:22 p.m., 110 degrees F.
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    Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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
  • Close up of solar panels with city skyline background
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    baranozdemir via Getty Images
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    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 March 27, 2024
  • White building with trees and large path in front
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    CharlieTong via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    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
  • Silhouette of power line infrastructure at sunset
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    Sanghwan Kim via Getty Images
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    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 March 25, 2024
  • A flame burns out of a metal stack against a dark sky
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    The image by Carl Young is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    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
  • Construction cranes and street light at sunrise
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    Jaimie Tuchman via Getty Images
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    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
  • Close up of EV charger with cars parked in background
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    Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    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
  • A woman stands in the road surrounded by downed power lines and debris
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    Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 March 21, 2024
  • A photo of President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law.
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    Drew Angerer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
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    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 March 20, 2024
  • An electric car charges at a mall parking lot.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News via Getty Images
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    Energy Department’s weakened EV mileage rule allows more gas-engine car sales through 2030

    A more aggressive timeline originally proposed by the Biden administration drew pushback from the auto industry.

    By Michael Brady • March 20, 2024
  • A heavy equipment operator drives a roller machine on a construction jobsite.
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    Courtesy of Skanska
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    Electrifying construction: Zero-emission compactor piloted on major Los Angeles transit project

    After testing an electric excavator on the $9.5 billion Purple Line project in February, contractor Skanska deployed this month one of the first all-electric compactors used on an ongoing U.S. project.

    By Zachary Phillips • March 19, 2024
  • A Schneider National driver plugs an electric Freightliner eCascadia into a charger.
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    Courtesy of Schneider National
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    Plan for zero-emission truck charging, fueling infrastructure unveiled by White House

    The strategy maps interstates, intermodal hubs, ports and truck parking to show where charging and hydrogen fueling stations will be most in demand.

    By Colin Campbell • March 19, 2024
  • Aerial shot of two people in hard hats walking on a rooftop between solar panels
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    Hiraman via Getty Images
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    25 cities to get climate-focused innovation teams through $200M Bloomberg initiative

    Oakland, California, hopes to leverage the support to ensure Black residents benefit from urban greening efforts. Nashville, Tennessee, is planning a clean energy workforce training program for Black communities.

    By March 18, 2024
  • Large bundles of plastic bags, cans and milk containers await processing at a recycling center.
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    shaunl via Getty Images
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    Recycling brings environmental justice communities opportunities — and potential costs

    As local groups strive for federal grants, efforts to recycle solar panels and EV batteries could exacerbate problems in already overburdened communities, National Recycling Congress participants said.

    By Megan Quinn • March 15, 2024
  • Aerial shot of a highway alongside a billboard that reads 1:22 p.m., 110 degrees F.
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    Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    15 minutes with the first state-level chief heat officer

    As Arizona shifts its approach to managing extreme heat risk, Eugene Livar wants to bring communities the resources they need without reinventing the wheel.

    By March 15, 2024
  • U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the Transportation Department building on May 09, 2023 in Washington, DC.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    US DOT awards $3.3B to reconnect communities, offers funding for other transportation projects

    Meanwhile, President Biden's 2025 budget for transportation calls for $4 billion for large transit projects and $1.2 billion for the use of low-embodied-carbon materials.

    By March 13, 2024
  • Close up of two people's hands touching fresh soil at the base of a small tree surrounded by grass
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    Aleksandr Golubev via Getty Images
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    Planting a tree just got $100 cheaper for property owners in a California water district

    A new rebate rewards residents and businesses for planting trees where they previously grew grass. However, “not all trees are created equal,” the water district’s resource specialist said.

    By March 13, 2024
  • A rooftop solar installation against the backdrop of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan.
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    FernandoAH via Getty Images
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    New York City bill would mandate solar panels on public buildings

    The legislation would prohibit the use of power purchase agreements to meet solar targets, leaving the city to figure out who should handle routine operations and maintenance of the systems.

    By Nish Amarnath • March 12, 2024