Energy & Utilities


  • A Toyota i-Road minimobility concept vehicle on display in Washington, D.C.
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    Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

    Is your city minimobility-ready? To accommodate smaller vehicles, many cities will require sweeping changes

    Cities must transition from favoring full-sized cars and SUVs to prioritizing slower, smaller passenger vehicles that can meet more travelers’ needs in less space, transportation experts say.

    By Austyn Gaffney • March 20, 2023
  • portrait of Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright outdoors
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    Permission granted by Climate Mayors
    Q&A

    On climate change, this group of mayors thinks globally and acts locally

    Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright discusses how the organization is helping mayors lead on climate policy and implement provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and 2021 infrastructure law.

    By March 17, 2023
  • An aerial view of the Miami skyline. Explore the Trendline
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    felixmizioznikov/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
    Trendline

    Smart Cities Dive 2023 Outlook

    In the year ahead, city leaders will continue to face economic headwinds while tackling the housing shortage, rethinking land use, dealing with changes in travel behavior and implementing federal spending programs to electrify and decarbonize cars, buses and buildings.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff
  • Two people walk along a street lined with classic New York brick townhouses, passing a blue car plugged into an electric vehicle charger on the sidewalk.
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    Permission granted by itselectric

    Curbside EV charging startup wins urban infrastructure award at SXSW

    Brooklyn-based itselectric plans to offer installation, management and maintenance of the chargers free to cities and property owners.

    By March 17, 2023
  • A white electric vehicle, parked by a sign that reads "Electric Vehicle charging station," is seen from a low angle outside the driver's door, plugged in to a charger.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

    $700 million for community EV charging now available from federal grant program

    Cities, counties, other local governments and tribes can apply for grants for public charging in urban and rural communities.

    By March 14, 2023
  • A city skyline beneath a cloudy, orange sky.
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    Kruck20 via Getty Images

    Skanska predicts construction costs will rise above inflation in many US cities

    The new report examined construction costs in 21 U.S. markets, including Dallas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Seattle.

    By Zachary Phillips • March 14, 2023
  • President Biden delivers remarks on 2024 budget plan In Philadelphia.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

    Biden proposed budget boosts funding for clean energy, permitting, efficiency programs

    The budget released Thursday includes $11.9 billion for the Department of Energy climate and clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment, a 20% hike over the FY 23 enacted amount.

    By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023
  • A water purification facility in San Jose.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

    EPA unveils cybersecurity oversight for public drinking water systems

    “Cyberattacks that are targeting water systems pose a real and significant threat to our security,” said Radhika Fox, assistant administrator for the EPA Office of Water, during a teleconference with reporters.

    By David Jones • March 6, 2023
  • A sign on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency building in Washington, D.C.
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    Gromit702/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    $250M for curbing climate pollution, advancing environmental justice available from US EPA

    Each of the 67 most-populated U.S. metropolitan areas is eligible for $1 million in planning grants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will follow with $4.6 billion to help cities and states implement their plans later this year.

    By March 1, 2023
  • Someone replacing a window in a building.
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    photovs/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    PACE programs are a popular strategy for local decarbonization financing: report

    Property-assessed clean energy programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.

    By Feb. 27, 2023
  • New York City Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch testifies before the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management on Feb. 22, 2022.
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    Retrieved from New York City Council.

    First NYC commercial waste zone implementation could begin in 2024, DSNY says

    Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has faced criticism over how long it has taken the New York City Department of Sanitation to advance the waste zones program.

    By Maria Rachal • Feb. 24, 2023
  • An image of Subway Oasis electric vehicle charging parks.
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    Courtesy of Subway

    Subway sandwich chain to install EV charging stations at select stores

    The smaller stations will have fast EV chargers that provide a 120-mile charge within 17 minutes for about $20.

    By Julie Littman • Feb. 23, 2023
  • Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 10, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
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    Tasos Katopodis/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

    ARPA fund spending shows regional differences in local government priorities, researchers say

    Large cities and counties have spent the largest share of state and local fiscal recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan Act on government operations. But their spending on other priorities diverges from there, researchers found.

    By Feb. 23, 2023
  • Several white cars are seen plugged into a line of electric vehicle chargers.
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    Marcus Lindstrom via Getty Images

    EV charging infrastructure is “inadequate and plagued with non-functioning stations”: J.D. Power

    Roughly one in five public charging attempts fails, with 72% of them attributed to equipment issues. “Just adding stations isn’t the answer ... we need to make sure those stations are reliable,” one J.D. Power executive said.

    By Feb. 22, 2023
  • Skyscrapers on either side of a river with a yellow tourboat gliding on it.
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    Mlenny via Getty Images

    Chicago adopts citywide equity and resiliency plan

    The We Will Chicago plan aims to address eight issue areas, including housing and economic development, in its 40 goals and 150 objectives. 

    By Feb. 21, 2023
  • A Tesla car recharges its battery at the Petaluma Supercharger on March 09, 2022 in Petaluma, California.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images

    Tesla to make some of its EV chargers public as White House announces rules for national charging network

    The rules will require federally funded chargers to be built in the United States, beginning with final assembly and some manufacturing processes.

    By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2023
  • Digital data flow on road with motion blur to create vision of fast speed transfer.
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    NanoStockk/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Smart city conferences to attend in 2023

    From electric vehicles and micromobility to housing and climate resiliency, here are some notable events for smart city leaders this year.

    By Feb. 13, 2023
  • Aerial view of Manhattan, New York, construction site.
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    AerialPerspective Works/E+ via Getty Images

    Insulating existing buildings with low-carbon and carbon-storing materials can reduce emissions: report

    “Deep energy retrofits” that use certain insulation systems can turn existing buildings into storehouses of carbon instead of emitters of greenhouse gases, according to an RMI report.

    By Feb. 9, 2023
  • The east side of the US Capitol in the early morning. Senate Chamber in the foreground.
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    drnadig via Getty Images

    House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects

    The Federal Infrastructure Bank would work with state and local partners on private infrastructure investments via loans and loan guarantees, helping finance work such as transportation projects and broadband connectivity.

    By Jennifer Goodman • Feb. 8, 2023
  • FBI thwarts neo-Nazi plot to attack Baltimore Gas & Electric substations, ‘completely destroy’ city

    Two suspects were charged in federal court in Maryland with plotting to attack utility substations with firearms. Experts say the plan could have resulted in widespread power outages.

    By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2023
  • Tim Walz speaks at a podium
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images

    Minnesota may soon require 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040

    The bill also calls for utilities to generate at least 55% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035. Waste incinerators in environmental justice areas would not count as clean energy.

    By Megan Quinn • Feb. 7, 2023
  • ChargePoint, Stem strike EV charging and battery storage deal for highway corridor fast-charging networks

    Combining charging, battery storage and AI-driven energy management will save money for EV site operators, the companies say.

    By Stephen Singer • Feb. 1, 2023
  • A view of downtown Austin, Texas.
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    Joe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

    10 US cities ready for a ‘smart city future’

    Tomorrow’s smart cities will have robust technology and green infrastructure, along with strong tech job markets, according to a report from real estate technology company ProptechOS.

    By Feb. 1, 2023
  • A building with a wooden exterior.
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    IGphotography via Getty Images

    How green building policy could evolve in 2023

    After reducing energy use in buildings, cutting embodied carbon is next on the green policy agenda for state and local leaders, potentially prompting a shift from concrete and steel to materials like timber or straw, experts say.

    By Adina Solomon • Jan. 26, 2023
  • Red and white Tesla cars are parked in front of a brick showroom in Brooklyn with a Tesla sign on the building.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images

    Tesla sets sales record as safety concerns mount

    California banned automakers from advertising self-driving capabilities that still require a driver in control, while NHTSA is investigating Tesla’s Autopilot system.

    By Jan. 26, 2023
  • Mayors partner with Hertz on rental EVs and public charging

    Shell also recently announced it’s buying charging network operator Volta in a $169 million deal, and electric charging equipment supplier Tritium is getting its largest-ever order from BP.

    By Jan. 20, 2023