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

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

Explore the 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 in 2024.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Dan Zukowski • Nov. 16, 2023

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

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

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

How cities can decarbonize delivery in the era of online orders

A new action guide by the National League of Cities points to emerging policies and technologies to combat increasing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 1, 2023

DOE issues draft plan to speed up, improve grid interconnections

The draft road map aims to transform grid interconnection processes, a major hurdle to the Biden administration’s goal of decarbonizing the power sector by 2035.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 27, 2023

Debate swirls at NYC hearing on proposed delays to building emissions enforcement

Participants weighed in on whether “good-faith efforts” toward compliance should delay penalties and whether renewable energy credits provide a worrisome loophole.

By Joe Burns • Updated Oct. 30, 2023

Los Angeles region to accelerate clean energy efforts in run-up to 2028 Olympics

The road map sets new and more granular decarbonization targets, said a co-chair of the public-private partnership behind the plan.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 26, 2023