Utilities: Page 12


  • Aerial shot of Manhattan
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    Drew Angerer/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    More climate-friendly housing, faster, is the goal of NYC proposal to speed environmental reviews

    Each eligible housing project could save an average of $100,000 and two years of review time, the city estimates.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 14, 2023
  • The Seattle skyline, featuring the Space Needle and skyscrapers.
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    George Dodd via Getty Images
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    Seattle requires large buildings to zero out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

    As building performance standards gain traction nationwide, Seattle’s policy is the city’s most ambitious plan ever to reduce building emissions, the City Council said.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 13, 2023
  • The Statue of Liberty stands in the foreground as Lower Manhattan is viewed at dusk, September 8, 2016 in New York City
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    NYC overhauls zoning to boost renewables, electrification

    The “City of Yes” initiative, which took effect Dec. 11, is among the most significant zoning changes in New York City's history, the city's chief climate officer said.

    By Joe Burns and Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 12, 2023
  • A Resideo smart thermostat mounted on a wall of a home.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford, Resideo to study how EVs can power homes

    The automaker and smart home product company will test how Ford’s future electric vehicle batteries can reduce home energy costs.

    By Eric Walz • Dec. 12, 2023
  • An illustration depicting Volkswagen's vehicle-to-home electric vehicle charging technology.
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    Courtesy of Volkswagen AG
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    VW is launching a vehicle-to-home EV charging pilot in Sweden

    Other automakers are also working on bidirectional charging technology, which allows homeowners to tap into the massive power reserves of EV batteries when the vehicle is stationary.

    By Eric Walz • Dec. 11, 2023
  • A technician connects cable on a solar rooftop array.
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    Wichien Tep via Getty Images
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    Warehouse roofs house New Jersey’s largest rooftop community solar project to date

    The two installations will provide more than 1,400 nearby homes with discounted solar energy.

    By Joe Burns • Dec. 11, 2023
  • Interior renovation of an existing building
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    mniebuhr via Getty Images
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    Existing building stock challenges decarbonization goals

    New construction codes that don’t align with performance standards for existing buildings pose a “serious problem,” said Sustainable Energy Partnerships’ managing director at an ASHRAE conference.

    By Joe Burns • Dec. 8, 2023
  • Closeup of a sign reading "United Nations Climate Change COP28 UAE" with blurred groups of people standing in the background
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    Sean Gallup/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    HUD announces new building decarbonization efforts at COP28

    As the U.S. pledges to make near-zero-emissions buildings the “new normal” by 2030, the housing agency is teaming up with other departments for access to the best available data and research.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 7, 2023
  • Michigan representative Tim Walberg sits behind a lectern as he speaks into a microphone during a congressional session
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    Courtesy of Rep. Tim Walberg
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    House passes CARS Act to halt EPA’s proposed tailpipe emission standards

    Proponents of the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act have said the environmental agency’s proposal is a de facto EV mandate.

    By Kalena Thomhave • Dec. 7, 2023
  • A blue Ford shuttle drives over a wireless charging roadway
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    Retrieved from Electreon on December 06, 2023
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    Detroit unveils wireless EV charging roadway

    The quarter-mile stretch recharges vehicles as they drive or park on the street. The charging technology will cover one mile of the road when complete.

    By Kalena Thomhave • Dec. 6, 2023
  • A wastewater treatment plant powered by wind turbines and solar panels near Atlantic City in New Jersey, USA. Aerial elevated view at the sunset.
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    Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
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    Authorities raise alarm on cyber threats against water, other critical sectors

    Hackers affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are behind a series of attacks targeting devices used in U.S. water and wastewater facilities, according to federal agencies.

    By David Jones • Dec. 5, 2023
  • A rendering of the CODA Detroit building.
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    Courtesy of OOMBRA Architects
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    Detroit joins growing cohort in adopting energy, water benchmarking policy

    The ordinance, which requires large buildings to annually report their energy and water use starting in 2024, is a key component of the city’s climate strategy.

    By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 4, 2023
  • An artistic rendering of a building which is transitioning from fossil fuel use to renewable sources like solar panels
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    Oliver de la Haye via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The US could still get to net-zero

    The country could reduce nearly 90% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without any Hail Mary innovations.

    By Michael Jung and Adam Agalloco • Dec. 1, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Energy department announces $31M for local, state energy efficiency and conservation efforts

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.In support...

    By Andy Castillo • Nov. 30, 2023
  • A view of tall buildings with a solar panel outside.
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    Zu-kuni via Getty Images
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    As building performance standards gain steam, noncompliant owners face business risks

    Some cities respond to policy violations with financial penalties, but green lease clauses and submetering provide other levers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says real estate firm CBRE.

    By Joe Burns • Updated Dec. 11, 2023
  • The Department of Energy (DOE) sign is seen at its headquarters, the James Forrestal Building, nicknamed the Little Pentagon, in Washington, DC.
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    DOE releases $31M+ in grants for retrofits, infrastructure upgrades

    Some cities will use the funds for resilience hubs, while others plan to conduct energy audits and upgrade facilities. Local governments can continue applying for the grants through April 2024.

    By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 28, 2023
  • A view of windows that show renovation work in an office of a commercial building
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    FangXiaNuo via Getty Images
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    Without significant interventions, US building emissions will continue to increase

    Federal, regional and local government bodies must collaborate to create “consistent and stringent building standards,” a new report says.

    By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 27, 2023
  • Aerial shot of homes in a city
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    Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
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    Plans to get an entire block off the natural gas system take shape in one California city

    Albany, California, wants to lay the groundwork for widescale adoption of this emerging building decarbonization approach.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 20, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    EPA announces $93M for 84 tribal recycling infrastructure, educational projects

    EPA announces $93M for 84 tribal recycling infrastructure, educational projects

    By Andy Castillo • Nov. 17, 2023
  • President Joe Biden, dressed in a dark suit with white hair, stands behind a podium in front of a brick tunnel and train.
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    2 years in, infrastructure law has funded 40,000 projects

    The largest portion of 2021 infrastructure law money is flowing to road and bridge construction, according to White House data analyzed by CNBC.

    By Julie Strupp • Nov. 17, 2023
  • People gather around new electric buses in Miami.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Electric buses: Boom times and bumpy roads

    Manufacturers are struggling to meet the demand spurred by federal funding and programs that encourage transit agencies to shift to zero-emission buses.

    By Nov. 16, 2023
  • Headshot of a person looking to the side
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    Scott Eisen/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Boston ends efforts to ban fossil fuels in new buildings through state program

    Massachusetts’ largest city pursued inclusion in the state climate pilot program, but the mayor reported she got “clear indications” that Boston would not be selected for the last of 10 spots.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 15, 2023
  • Electric vehicle, or EV, charging stations.
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    gerenme via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Big power’s EV charging strategy: Raise rates, overpromise, underdeliver, repeat

    We grant publicly regulated utilities certain privileges in exchange for reliability and affordability. When they try to leverage that privilege to corner a new market, they deserve plenty of pushback.

    By Jay Smith • Nov. 6, 2023
  • Offshore wind turbines in the ocean.
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    Ørsted cancels two offshore wind projects along New Jersey coast

    The projects became financially unworkable due to supply chain problems and increased interest rates, the company said. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called Ørsted’s decision “outrageous.”

    By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 2, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Local, county officials call on EPA to reduce methane emissions in landfills

    Local, county officials call on EPA to reduce methane emissions in landfills

    By Andy Castillo • Nov. 2, 2023