Climate & Resilience
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What the Senate permitting bill means for local infrastructure projects
The bipartisan proposal would streamline reviews and permitting and require data centers to pay for their share of transmission costs. Here's what local government associations think of it.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 8, 2026 -
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Restored Solar for All funding won’t cover the disruption’s ‘devastating’ costs, grantee lawsuit says
Termination of the $7 billion program created additional costs for recipients, developers and the low-income and disadvantaged communities that were to benefit, the plaintiffs say.
By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 7, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineTop 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.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Robyn Griggs Lawrence/Smart Cities Dive
Plan now for 2027’s top smart city conferences and events
Technology, transportation, housing, climate, finance and more are on the agenda for local government leaders at these upcoming gatherings.
By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Oct. 6, 2026 -
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Supreme Court hears arguments in Boulder County, Colorado, climate case
In a case that could affect dozens of similar lawsuits nationwide, the justices are weighing whether cities and counties can use state courts to seek damages from fossil fuel companies.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 6, 2026 -
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Weaker fuel-efficiency standards target of local and state government lawsuit
A coalition of cities, states and counties are challenging the Trump administration’s rollback of vehicle efficiency rules, citing consumer costs and pollution.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 5, 2026 -
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NYC’s building performance mandate sees strong compliance in first year
About 95% of required properties filed compliance reports in 2025, with 95% of those meeting emissions goals. For some of the others, fines have started.
By Joe Burns • Oct. 5, 2026 -
Adobe
Sponsored by RoutewareSnow season is coming. Can your city see its storm response in real time?
How cities are moving snow response off radio and paper maps to a live, street-level view.
Oct. 5, 2026 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Cities, states sue EPA over power plant emissions rollback
Chicago, Denver and New York City join multistate lawsuits challenging the agency’s move to end greenhouse gas emissions standards and failure to enforce requirements on existing gas-fired plants.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Oct. 5, 2026 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Data CentersData centers are stress-testing local governments. Here are 5 strategies to rein them in.
Tools including zoning and permitting can address transparency, infrastructure, community benefits and other concerns, panelists at a Southern Environmental Law Center event said.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 29, 2026 -
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OpinionOn clean energy, bigger is not always better
When Congress revisits clean-energy tax policy, lawmakers should restore incentives for locally driven solar and storage projects, writes Edward Yim at Lawyers for Good Government.
By Edward Yim • Sept. 25, 2026 -
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Second federal judge overturns $7B Solar for All cancellation by Trump administration EPA
The decision in a suit brought by Harris County, Texas, follows a similar ruling last week. A Harris County judge called it “a really important victory for energy resilience.”
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 25, 2026 -
Permission granted by City of Columbia.
Green infrastructureHow a water infrastructure crisis became a riverfront opportunity in Columbia, South Carolina
After Hurricane Joaquin exposed vulnerabilities in its drinking water system, the city is turning resilience investments into a broader strategy to reconnect residents with its rivers.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 24, 2026 -
Permission granted by New York City
Green roofs, reflective materials on bus shelters aim to beat the heat in NYC pilot
The pilot in one of the city’s most heat-vulnerable neighborhoods is testing how changes to everyday transit infrastructure can help cities adapt to extreme heat.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 23, 2026 -
Mario Tama/ via Getty Images
Data CentersCities get more say in data center development under new California laws
Data center developers must disclose energy and water use, pay more for grid infrastructure and undergo environmental review under seven bills Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Monday.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 22, 2026 -
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EPA unlawfully canceled $7B Solar for All program, judge rules
The ruling could revive grants awarded to states, cities and nonprofits for low-income solar projects.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 21, 2026 -
Jon Cherry via Getty Images
Local water projects on path to federal support as WRDA 2026 clears House
The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 targets flood protection, ports, waterways and water supply while giving communities more tools to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 18, 2026 -
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EPA scraps Biden-era power plant carbon rules, moves to eliminate all power-sector GHG standards
“While mayors continue to advance local initiatives to protect residents, the EPA is moving backwards,” Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Sept. 15, 2026 -
Permission granted by Hourcar
2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award Winners: Solving real community needs
Addressing energy costs, housing, transportation and community engagement, these initiatives exemplify the innovation that helps cities and counties improve residents’ lives.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Permission granted by Hourcar
EV car-sharing and curbside charging network expands clean transportation in Minnesota’s Twin Cities
The EV Spot Network may be the nation’s first municipally-owned car-sharing and clean-energy-powered curbside charging program. It’s a 2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award winner.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Permission granted by Mike Taylor/City of Orlando
Renters benefit from energy-efficient appliances through Orlando program
This Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award winner puts portable energy-saving technology in low-income residents’ hands, reaching renters and homeowners overlooked by most efficiency programs.
By Stephanie Kanowitz • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Permission granted by City of Durham
The Smart Cities Dive Awards
To highlight notable people and projects in U.S. city, county and regional government, Smart Cities Dive presents the Public Service Awards and the Community Project Awards.
By Rachel H. Pollack • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Retrieved from Flickr.
Financing climate resilience: 3 ways cities are pivoting as federal funding dwindles
Local leaders are turning to layered programs, new financing tools and deeper community engagement to prepare for extreme weather.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 4, 2026 -
Megan Quinn/Smart Cities Dive
Food waste collection for multifamily housing expands in D.C.
The city's smart bin program will add another 20 collection locations. It’s part of an effort to increase multifamily composting efforts to meet D.C.'s zero waste goal to divert 80% of waste by 2040.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 3, 2026 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
New York’s congestion pricing program has not affected air quality, study finds
The study addresses fears that the program would increase pollution if drivers tried to avoid the toll.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 2, 2026 -
Retrieved from Flickr.
Stormwater ‘sponges’ take root in Queens, New York, to curb flooding
As part of its larger green infrastructure program, the city is repurposing existing hardscape to capture millions of gallons of stormwater before it overwhelms sewers.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 31, 2026
