Utilities: Page 14

  • A rendering of the CODA Detroit building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of OOMBRA Architects
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • An artistic rendering of a building which is transitioning from fossil fuel use to renewable sources like solar panels
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    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
  • A hand holding a pencil hovers over model buildings and windmills. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    Energy Codes and Building Performance Standards

    Cities are using these levers to meet climate goals and address everything from data centers to building decarbonization.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Energy department announces $31M for local, state energy efficiency and conservation efforts

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.In support...

    By Andy Castillo • Nov. 30, 2023
  • A view of tall buildings with a solar panel outside.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • The Department of Energy (DOE) sign is seen at its headquarters, the James Forrestal Building, nicknamed the Little Pentagon, in Washington, DC.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A view of windows that show renovation work in an office of a commercial building
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Aerial shot of homes in a city
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    EPA announces $93M for 84 tribal recycling infrastructure, educational projects

    EPA announces $93M for 84 tribal recycling infrastructure, educational projects

    By Andy Castillo • Nov. 17, 2023
  • President Joe Biden, dressed in a dark suit with white hair, stands behind a podium in front of a brick tunnel and train.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • People gather around new electric buses in Miami.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • Nov. 16, 2023
  • Headshot of a person looking to the side
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Eisen/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Electric vehicle, or EV, charging stations.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    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
  • Offshore wind turbines in the ocean.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Local, county officials call on EPA to reduce methane emissions in landfills

    Local, county officials call on EPA to reduce methane emissions in landfills

    By Andy Castillo • Nov. 2, 2023
  • A FedEx employee delivers boxes
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Department of Energy announces $1.3B to increase electrical grid transmission capacity

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.To reach a...

    By Andy Castillo • Oct. 30, 2023
  • Solar panels and wind turbines in the desert producing renewable energy.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • New York CIty tall buildings at night.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Two workers install solar panels on a roof
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Dam engineering on a deadline: When Leominster, Mass. was inundated by an epic rainfall event

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Engineers who ...

    By Anders Bjarngard • Oct. 26, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Department of Energy makes ‘largest-ever direct investment’ of $3.4B toward critical grid infrastructure

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The federa...

    By Andy Castillo • Oct. 23, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Navigating tap water contamination: Tips for maintaining public trust during a time of heightened awareness

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.As the EPA...

    By Seth Mansergh • Oct. 20, 2023
  • Electric grid lines
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    DOE announces ‘largest-ever investment in America’s grid,’ giving $3.5B across 44 states

    The awards include smart grid grants of around $1 million to individual cities.

    By Robert Walton • Oct. 20, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    U.S. energy department announces $7B for seven regional hubs to advance hydrogen technology

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The U.S. D...

    By Andy Castillo • Oct. 18, 2023
  • An overhead view of the six-lane Cross Bronx Expressway filled with bumper-to-bumper cars and large trucks.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How many chargers will the Northeast’s electric trucks need? National Grid aims to find out.

    The U.S. Department of Energy-funded analysis will span some of the nation’s largest cities, targeting highways with heavy trucking traffic and commercial areas such as ports.

    By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2023