NREL energy audit tool may help cities meet climate, building decarbonization goals

Local governments often lack the staff and resources to conduct energy audits on thousands of buildings, an engineer at the National Renewable Energy Lab said, but technology can help overcome those challenges.

By Joe Burns • May 16, 2023

Dallas restores core emergency dispatch systems after ransomware attack

“At this point, we do not have evidence or indication that there has been data removed during this attack,” Dallas CIO Bill Zielinski told city officials Monday.

By Matt Kapko • May 9, 2023

How governments are updating ‘operational technologies,’ including AI, and the challenges that remain: survey

Over half of the survey respondents reported their agency plans to upgrade systems by 2025, a Center for Digital Government and Samsara survey found. Operational efficiency and cost savings are a big reason why.

By Michael Brady • May 4, 2023

New York state, NYC take steps to electrify buildings, move away from fossil fuels

New York state, NYC take steps to electrify buildings, move away from fossil fuels

By Andy Castillo • May 3, 2023

To spur geothermal heating and cooling, DOE funds 11 community-scale system design projects

DOE will select several of the designs for development to advance community-scale geothermal systems, which are relatively uncommon in the U.S.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 3, 2023

California spent $1.3B in cap-and-trade funds on climate, equity projects in 2022

The California Climate Investments funding addressed affordable housing, transportation, energy costs, extreme heat, fire, access to clean drinking water and more, a California Air Resources Board official said.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 2, 2023

Affordable, all-electric and energy-efficient housing gets $15M boost from NYC initiative

The initiative “will demonstrate to the affordable housing market a highly replicable new construction solution,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 2, 2023

Women, people of color, renters underrepresented on land-use boards: report

Homeownership and other requirements could create barriers to participation that “function as inexplicit racial filters,” an Urban Institute report found.

By Gaby Galvin • April 28, 2023

First state law banning gas in new buildings passes in New York

The law does not include a “poison pill” provision backed by the oil and gas industry, which environmental and social justice advocates had worried would make its way into the measure.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Updated Dec. 21, 2023

Worried about gas ban litigation? After court tosses Berkeley rule, legal experts look at cities’ options

Other “totally lawful opportunities” exist for local governments to phase out gas in new buildings, such as through building codes, said a senior fellow at Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 27, 2023

ARPA funds used to fill city budget gaps, Brookings analysis finds

Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds on “revenue replacement” allowed localities to free up money for long-term priorities, such as economic development, a Brookings Metro researcher said.

By Kalena Thomhave • April 21, 2023

Cybersecurity best practices for smart cities issued by CISA

Smart city technologies are at risk “of exploitation for espionage and for financial or political gain by malicious threat actors,” according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

By Michael Brady • April 21, 2023

The costs and surprises of EV charging, according to convenience store retailers

Read the EV charging station maintenance challenges, lessons learned and more from convenience and fuel operators, who are a big part of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure nationwide.

By Brett Dworski • April 14, 2023

Booming EV sales amp up the pressure on cities and companies to meet charging demand

“This is a wake-up call,” an executive at an energy management company said. “The transformation required to enable widespread vehicle electrification will be a massive challenge.”

By Dan Zukowski • April 13, 2023

On infrastructure jobs, OSHA steps up workplace safety enforcement

As federal funds flood into construction projects thanks to the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is concerned about protecting workers in the infrastructure sector.

By Julie Strupp • April 12, 2023

Tighter EPA vehicle emissions standards may speed up electric vehicle transition

The new emissions standards would apply to 2027 through 2032 model-year vehicles, but they would not mandate EVs, leaving it up to automakers to decide how to meet the rules.

By Dan Zukowski • April 12, 2023

The country’s most EV-friendly metro areas

Electric vehicle charger availability varies widely across the U.S. Of the top 10 U.S. metro areas for electric-vehicle friendliness, more than half are in California, a new report found.

By Mary Salmonsen • April 10, 2023

Walmart to install EV chargers at thousands of stores by 2030

The company noted that there’s “a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans,” putting these chargers in easy reach of most electric vehicle drivers.

By Jessica Loder • April 7, 2023

Off-grid electric vehicle charging can help cities and counties reach sustainability targets

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.Installing...

By Michael Keating • April 6, 2023

States’ transportation electrification plans fail to consider grid needs: report

Managing charging will be vital because transportation could represent more than a quarter of global electricity use by 2050, the Energy Systems Integration Group said in its report.  

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2023

Amazon deliveries made by Rivian EVs surge to 75M

More than 3,000 electric vehicles are making Amazon deliveries in over 500 cities and regions across the U.S., Amazon said.

By Max Garland • April 3, 2023

What is the Build America, Buy America Act, and how does it apply to local governments?

What is the Build America, Buy America Act, and how does it apply to local governments?

By Katherine Tsou • April 3, 2023

Uber and bp to provide fast EV chargers to the ride-hailing company’s drivers

Uber drivers use electric vehicles at a rate more than eight times that of the general population in the U.S., an Uber spokesperson said.

By Dan Zukowski • March 31, 2023

NYC launches online portal for city services, benefits

Mayor Eric Adams said the online portal, dubbed MyCity, would make it easier for residents to apply for benefits by reducing bureaucracy and red tape.

By Michael Brady • March 31, 2023

How cities can center equity in EV charging

“Focus more on the people than on the hardware” to implement EV charging equitably, one electric transportation advocate said, such as by talking to residents and listening to their needs.

By Kalena Thomhave • March 28, 2023