Utilities: Page 2

  • Smoke pours from smokestacks by a river.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    EPA’s move to gut key climate regulation raises stakes for city leaders

    A repeal of the endangerment finding would make local climate policy a new battleground in continuing tensions between the Trump administration and cities, a legal scholar suggests.

    By • July 30, 2025
  • Zoomed in shot of a person with a hard hat on hold an ipad over a drain taking a scan.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Oldcastle Infrastructure
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Oldcastle Infrastructure

    Workforce issues put new demands on municipal water management

    Water systems are aging and leaking as water experts are retiring. Can tech save our most vital resource?

    By Chris Cummings • July 14, 2025
  • 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
    Green infrastructure

    Building community through play

    The right playground equipment fosters community spirit and helps direct youth energy in the right direction

    By Michael Keating • June 30, 2025
  • 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

    AI could hold the key to help cities solve traffic issues

    By harnessing AI to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion, cities are finding themselves in a far more advantageous position to create and maintain efficient and sustainable urban environments.

    By Wes Guckert • June 27, 2025
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Chris Hondros/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Summer power bills are going up, federal government warns

    Consumers will see a “slight increase” in power bills this summer, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Monday. But that analysis is based on expectations for cooler weather.

    By Robert Walton • June 25, 2025
  • 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

    No surprise: The public sector faces more ransomware and cloud-based attacks in 2025

    Several factors leave cities and counties more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, including limited security budgets, less mature security programs and slower ability to adapt to evolving threats.

    By Michael Keating • June 16, 2025
  • 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

    Securing our water future through strategic action

    How utilities can overcome aging infrastructure, unfunded mandates and emerging contaminants.

    By Stephanie Cuthbert • June 13, 2025
  • 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

    Study: Business AI power consumption highest in these 10 states

    States across the country are seeing surges in electricity usage from businesses incorporating AI, according to a recent study by internet marketing company DesignRush.

    By • June 13, 2025
  • 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

    Clearing waterways of nuisance vegetation can be a green achievement

    A key part of aquatic maintenance includes a growing demand for products that get rid of vegetation overgrowth without the use of dangerous herbicides.

    By Michael Keating • June 4, 2025
  • A skyline of New York City
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    NYC power bills going up this summer, ConEd warns

    The increases come amid a national rise in electricity prices and rapidly growing demand. Consolidated Edison has spent about $2.35 billion on its distribution system since last summer.

    By Robert Walton • May 29, 2025
  • A wall of six electric smart meters against gray, metal paneling.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Ethan Howland
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Making energy affordable again: The role of cities, states and utilities in enhancing the energy safety net

    Even as the U.S. pursues an energy agenda centered on achieving affordability through abundance, utilities and local governments have tools to help families navigate energy insecurities.

    By Diana Hernández and Vivek Shastry • May 28, 2025
  • Construction equipment is stationed near transmission towers
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    CenterPoint completes critical Houston grid upgrades ahead of hurricane season

    The utility has bolstered its power grid and communications systems since Hurricane Beryl left almost 2.3 million Houston-areas customers without power last summer.

    By Robert Walton • May 27, 2025
  • A man exits the front of the U.S. Capitol at dawn.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Win McNamee via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Republican budget squeezes out of House committee, but deeper IRA cuts could come

    Deficit hawks voted to advance the legislation for now but said they negotiated for more cuts to clean energy incentives.

    By Diana DiGangi • May 20, 2025
  • Blue pipes are stacked in front of a yellow bulldozer.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Thermal energy networks need municipal participation: report

    Cities and other entities can develop neighborhood-scale thermal networks to lower greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy consultants say.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • Wind turbines operate at a wind farm in Coachella Valley, as vehicles drive on a highway below.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Policy, tax uncertainty holding back US clean energy development

    Clean energy policy experts gathered at DC Climate Week said the current uncertainty around the U.S. tax and tariff environment is inhibiting the market.

    By Lamar Johnson • May 12, 2025
  • 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

    Enhanced tech helps government fleets run at peak performance, but fleet managers must evolve

    From supply chain disruptions to technological advancements including telematics, AI and driver-assistance, the role of the fleet professional is evolving faster than ever before.

    By Michael Keating • May 8, 2025
  • A hand holding a carbon monoxide alarm in front of a gas stove
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report ranks states’ efforts to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

    UL Standards & Engagement officials recommend cities and states mandate indoor carbon monoxide alarms, conduct public awareness campaigns and train first responders.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • An Energy Star label on a washing machine.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Trump administration plans to end popular Energy Star program

    The program has helped consumers save more than $500 billion in energy costs and 5 trillion kWh since it launched in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush.

    By Robert Walton • May 8, 2025
  • 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

    ASCE recap: Local and state government should start reporting regularly on infrastructure success

    While the report card provides valuable information to track progress, government leaders should take the initiative to develop their own measurement systems.

    By Jennifer Perkins • May 2, 2025
  • 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

    Smarter infrastructure: How rural and suburban counties can leverage advanced GIS data

    The data gives us visibility into underlying infrastructure, which helps us take proactive maintenance and repair actions, improve efficiency and be mindful of our budgets through careful planning.

    By Matt Fox • April 30, 2025
  • 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

    Special districts: The forgotten districts of local government

    Special districts and special purpose districts are a vital yet often underrecognized component of local government and the community at large. It’s important to educate the public about them, the challenges they face and how to navigate them.

    By Brenden Elwood • April 23, 2025
  • Bumper-to-bumper cars emerge from a tunnel onto a midtown Manhattan street.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    New York expands EV purchase, charging equipment incentives

    New York is making $30 million available to assist with the lease or purchase of new electric vehicles. The state is also expanding efforts to reduce equipment installation costs for Level 2 chargers.

    By Robert Walton • April 23, 2025
  • 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

    EV fleets get fueled via solar chargers and managed charging software through existing grid

    The decision of when to shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) to EVs is often driven (or limited) by available grid power. Municipalities often face constraints when looking to transition traditional ICE fleets to EVs due to limited grid capacity at the parking lots where their vehicles are stored.

    By Michael Keating • April 16, 2025
  • 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

    More public EV charging, including curbside, envisioned in Chicago plan

    “By prioritizing equity and public input, we’re creating a roadmap for electric transportation that serves every neighborhood and helps drive down emissions across Chicago,” the city’s transportation department commissioner said.

    By • April 14, 2025
  • The exterior of Brockton, Massachusetts, City Hall.
    Image attribution tooltip
    "City Hall" [Photograph]. Retrieved from City of Brockton, Massachusetts.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Brockton, Mass., leverages energy savings contract to preserve, improve two historic buildings

    New window, lighting and HVAC systems aim to reduce energy and improve air quality, including in one building that has been unusable in extreme weather. 

    By Joe Burns • April 14, 2025