Energy & Utilities
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California mandates all new passenger vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2035
The goal could reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions over 35% from cars statewide, fast tracking California's climate goals as the state grapples with a series of destructive wildfires.
By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 24, 2020 -
Wulff, Andreas. (2015). "New York City" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Sidewalk Labs tool aims to boost building energy efficiency
Mesa, which uses automation and real-time data to optimize energy use, is part of a suite of products developed in the wake of the company's Toronto exit.
By Chris Teale • Sept. 22, 2020 -
Opinion
In deploying electrified urban transport, look to university campuses
Recognizing universities as urban innovation hubs, particularly for electrified transportation, can aid the transition to a new, better "normal" post-coronavirus.
By Rod Keller • Sept. 15, 2020 -
Transition to EVs could save $72B in health costs: American Lung Association
Widespread EV adoption and the resulting emission reductions could prevent more than 6,000 premature deaths in 2050, according to the organization.
By Chris Teale • Sept. 15, 2020 -
The image by Gabriel Civita Ramirez is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
'Aggressive' federal aid would push US to net zero emissions by 2050: report
America's Pledge released its fourth-annual U.S. climate analysis, finding to its "great surprise" that the pandemic is not slowing climate progress.
By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 14, 2020 -
Courtesy of Project Room
A 'uniquely LA' streetlight design will soon illuminate the City of Angels
Project Room won Los Angeles' streetlight design competition with its Superbloom concept, described as a streetlight "bouquet" with extra arms for features such as pedestrian fixtures or solar panels.
By Kristin Musulin • Sept. 11, 2020 -
The image by Tom Thai/Flickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0 / Edited by Michelle Rock/Smart Cities Dive
House to probe clean energy omission in COVID recovery
As the U.S. diverges from other countries in its efforts to marry economic recovery with climate policy, a House subcommittee is planning to hold a hearing on efforts in the EU and elsewhere.
By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 11, 2020 -
Navarro, Danny. (2014). "Pittsburgh skyline at night" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
67% of low-income households face high energy burden: ACEEE
About one-quarter of all U.S. households face a high energy burden, with low-income households and communities of color spending disproportionately more of their income on energy costs.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 10, 2020 -
Opinion
EV battery sustainability is a must to meet climate ambitions
Better governance of the extraction of EV minerals is essential to the future of mineral-producing countries, the electric vehicle industry and global transportation.
By Ethan N. Elkind and Patrick R. P. Heller • Sept. 08, 2020 -
Light, Alan. (2015). "Chicago Skyline" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Chicago launches $200M RFP to power city facilities by renewable energy
Under the contract, all city-owned buildings, streetlights and facilities would run on renewable energy starting in 2022, supporting the city's climate goals.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 03, 2020 -
Valadi, Sam. (2012). "Empire State - New York City" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
OpinionIt's time to reimagine a greener New York that mitigates extreme heat
The city should invest in more green infrastructure like parks, green roofs and street trees to tackle the health effects of extreme heat that disproportionately impact communities of color.
By Cailin Crowe • Aug. 31, 2020 -
Senate Democrats reveal climate plan to achieve net-zero carbon economy
The report calls on Congress to spend at least 2% of annual U.S. GDP on climate actions and require federal regulators to ensure publicly-traded companies disclose climate risks.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 27, 2020 -
Delaware transit agency to power electric buses with solar array
The Delaware Transit Corporation will install the 60,000-square-foot array at its facility in Dover, where it will power the facility and charge electric buses.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 26, 2020 -
Robertson, Amy. (2016). "20161216-OSEC-AR-7950" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Louisiana governor puts state on path to net-zero emissions by 2050
Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards established a task force through an executive order tasked with interim goals of reducing emissions 26-28% by 2025 and 40-50% by 2030.
By Emma Penrod • Aug. 24, 2020 -
Permission granted by Accuweather
Northeast officials blast utilities after 'wholly inadequate' storm response
Hurricane Isaias brought Consolidated Edison, Eversource and other utilities their most power outages since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Aug. 10, 2020 at 10:01 a.m. -
Mandated energy efficiency scores would influence home buying: ACEEE
An empirical study of how U.S. homeowners value energy efficiency information found that homebuyers are more likely to purchase an efficient home if that data is presented in a listing.
By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 06, 2020 -
San Diego turns off smart streetlights ahead of surveillance ordinance vote
Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the city had "no choice" but to turn the controversial technology off, days after it offered police to run the Smart Streetlights program.
By Chris Teale • UPDATED: Sept. 14, 2020 at 10:05 a.m. -
Permission granted by General Motors
GM, EVgo to triple fast charging network
The companies announced plans to add more than 2,700 new fast chargers in "highly visible areas" across 40 undisclosed metropolises.
By Chris Teale • Aug. 03, 2020 -
EVs can be a grid asset if user experience is prioritized: SEPA
Utilities can use electric vehicles to more efficiently manage distribution grids, but experts on a Smart Electric Power Alliance panel Tuesday warned the focus must remain on the customer experience.
By Robert Walton • July 30, 2020 -
Changing grid architecture creates resilience opportunities: report
Over the next decade, utilities will invest about $1 trillion in power grid upgrades. That creates an opportunity to "reimagine the fundamental approach to grid resilience," according to a new report from Rocky Mountain Institute.
By Robert Walton • July 24, 2020 -
Permission granted by Pittsburgh International Airport
Construction begins on Pittsburgh International Airport microgrid
The microgrid will completely power PIT by next summer, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative among major U.S. airports.
By Chris Teale • July 23, 2020 -
Getty Images
OpinionSmart pumps are key for more sustainable cities
The benefits of smart pumps align with the aim of smart cities to more effectively manage assets and resources — ultimately leading to the achievement of city sustainability goals.
By Peter Gaydon • July 20, 2020 -
The image by Martin Snicer is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Opinion3 steps to optimize buildings for the safe return of employees
The time has come to lean into smart technologies, get employees back at their desks and begin the process of rebuilding economies.
By Glenn Lurie • July 16, 2020 -
Biden outlines $2T plan to invest in renewables, electrification
Joe Biden said now is an "incredible opportunity" to recover from COVID-19 in a way that tackles climate change and creates jobs.
By Emma Penrod • July 15, 2020 -
Supermac1961 from CHAFFORD HUNDRED, England / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0). (2009). "Peterbilt truck" [photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
15 states, DC collaborate on 100% electric truck sales by 2050
A memorandum of understanding gives states the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the California Air Resources Board's electric-truck sales rule.
By S.L. Fuller • July 14, 2020
