Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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California’s clean mobility push is leaving low-income residents behind
E-bikes and e-scooters are among the cleanest and least expensive transportation modes. California can make equitable green mobility a reality.
Marta Anadón Rosinach • Aug. 21, 2025 -
The weather is changing. Here’s how utilities can adapt.
Climate READi, developed by energy providers, policymakers and government agencies, can help energy companies prioritize investments and adapt the evolving electric system to the climate of the future.
Morgan Scott • Aug. 1, 2025 -
California’s clean mobility push is leaving low-income residents behind
Rebates for electric bikes in California have been successful but can leave out people who most need an alternative to private vehicles and public transit.
Marta Anadón Rosinach • July 22, 2025 -
New building codes aim to provide vital flood protection
The updated standards mark a major shift in approach for design and construction in flood hazard areas, according to a floodplain manager.
Tom Little • June 16, 2025 -
NYC’s congestion pricing could be halted, but the data says it’s working
TomTom data shows a significant shift in traffic patterns, with congestion levels dropping considerably across the city, a company expert says.
Ralf-Peter Schäfer • June 4, 2025 -
Making energy affordable again: The role of cities, states and utilities in enhancing the energy safety net
Even as the U.S. pursues an energy agenda centered on achieving affordability through abundance, utilities and local governments have tools to help families navigate energy insecurities.
Diana Hernández and Vivek Shastry • May 28, 2025 -
How LA hoteliers can prepare for Olympics, World Cup amid a complex operating environment
Hotel employers, labor unions, city officials and industry associations will need to work together to ensure Los Angeles offers a world-class experience to visitors, writes attorney Lara Shortz.
Lara Shortz • May 9, 2025 -
Maximizing ROI in transportation: The case for intercity buses
Privately operated intercity buses offer one of the highest returns on investment for federal transportation funding. The Trump administration could help expand this transportation mode.
Kai Boysan • April 22, 2025 -
3 concerns about California’s neighborhood decarbonization pilot program
Decarbonization is essential to achieve carbon neutrality, but tenants and low-income homeowners might pay a steep price due to factors they can’t control.
Teresa Linares • March 20, 2025 -
New approaches to procurement can drive innovation in public transit
The lengthy process from RFP to equipment delivery can result in trains that are already obsolete when they go into service. New technologies and procurement approaches could help.
Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal • March 13, 2025 -
Energy bills are crushing low-income families. Here’s how state and local policymakers can help.
Recent research found that a quarter of low-income households in the U.S. spend more than 15% of their income on energy bills, compared to the overall median of just 2.9%.
Roxana Ayala • Feb. 28, 2025 -
The unseen environmental costs of autonomous cars
Robotaxis and self-driving cars could be a big step backwards in sustainability, cautions the CEO of an advanced transportation firm.
Jeral Poskey • Feb. 26, 2025 -
4 ways local governments are harnessing AI to transform operations
The technology could improve municipal efficiency, accuracy and service delivery — but implementation must address community and public-sector worker concerns.
Jeff Green • Feb. 12, 2025 -
E-bike fire crisis won’t be tamed without federal support
Lithium-ion battery fires are causing deadly incidents across the country. Attorney Michael Mezzacappa points to New York as an example of how cities can respond but calls for Congress to take greater action on safety standards.
Michael Mezzacappa • Feb. 6, 2025 -
We need another infrastructure law
Carlo Scissura has a message for Congress and President-elect Trump: Building a stronger country can’t stop now.
Carlo Scissura • Jan. 16, 2025 -
How to keep electric vehicle investments on track in the new political climate
A clean fuel standard has worked in several states to fund EV infrastructure. It should be tried in more places.
Laura Sherman • Jan. 10, 2025 -
Don’t blink
If I were to give a short bit of advice to today’s procurement workforce, it would have to be “don’t blink.” The time spent in a rewarding career will go by faster than you think.
Darin Matthews, CPPO, CPSM, NIGP-CPP • Dec. 20, 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.
Chris Badger • Dec. 17, 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.
Darren Springer • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Procurement Ponderable: Supporting your entity’s sustainability goals through procurement
One noteworthy shortcut is using existing cooperative contracts for sustainable products created by entities that have the capacity to award such contracts.
Stephen B. Gordon, PhD, FNIGP, CPPO-Ret. • Dec. 9, 2024 -
Virginia Beach City Public Schools earns an A+ in employee benefits
By focusing on a culture of wellness, integrating services to empower participants to change unhealthy behaviors and encouraging engagement through a highly personalized approach, school systems can create a winning benefits package that attracts and retains top talent.
Tim Church, MD, MPH, PhD • Dec. 5, 2024 -
The hidden costs of property tax escrow delays
Delays in property tax payments—whether due to inefficiency, operational shortcomings, or misaligned priorities—can create financial headaches for homeowners and disrupt the revenue flow for municipalities that depend on these funds to provide essential services.
Niko Spyridonos • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Loosening alcohol laws to revitalize your city’s economy is a mistake
Cities must keep our public spaces alcohol-free to preserve health and safety, warns a policy consultant at the Institute for Public Strategies, a public health organization.
Daniel Skiles • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Retrieved from City of New Braunfels.
Suburban cities focus on infrastructure expansions, upgrades
These smaller-but-growing markets are generating a range of public works construction projects, writes consultant Mary Scott Nabers.
Mary Scott Nabers • Nov. 19, 2024 -
Community trust is a firefighter’s greatest asset
Firefighters are society’s first line of defense against natural disasters. When catastrophes like wildfires, floods or earthquakes ensue, these professionals aren’t just tasked with preventing the disaster from spreading; they’re also responsible for keeping community members safe from harm and maintaining order under high-stress situations.
Robbi King • Nov. 5, 2024