Utilities: Page 3

  • 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.
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    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
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    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
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    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
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    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
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    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.
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    "City Hall" [Photograph]. Retrieved from City of Brockton, Massachusetts.
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    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
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    Denver adds flexibility to building performance guidelines

    Following public input, including some backlash from building owners, the new rules will push back compliance deadlines, remove electrification report requirements and reduce penalty rates, the city said. 

    By Joe Burns • April 9, 2025
  • Workers in orange vests and caps standing on either side of an unhoused person in front of tents and tarps
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Housing, utilities, food among top US needs in 2024: United Way survey

    “At a moment when individuals and communities need more support, but national and local resources are uncertain,” the survey results can help identify cross-sector solutions, United Way Worldwide CEO Angela Williams said.

    By Ryan Kushner • April 2, 2025
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    America’s aging water infrastructure faces new threats

    The U.S. urgently needs to increase funding to shore up facilities, experts say, as climate change and emerging contaminants like PFAS pose growing threats.

    By Julie Strupp • April 1, 2025
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    U.S. infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card

    Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said.

    By Michelle Havich • March 26, 2025
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    Retrieved from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
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    DOE withdraws, postpones multiple appliance energy efficiency rules

    “We are returning freedom of choice to the American people,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement. Appliance efficiency advocates warn the agency is in “uncharted territory.”

    By Robert Walton • March 26, 2025
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    US infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card

    Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said. 

    By Michelle M. Havich • March 26, 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.
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    Mobile servicing and specialized service centers keep public sector fleets in good working order

    Local government fleet managers want to keep their vehicles rolling. Fleet service options can help keep vehicles on the road.

    By Michael Keating • March 20, 2025
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    Madison, Wisconsin, benchmarking program to phase in smaller buildings

    Continuous benchmarking and system tune-ups can help owners and operators reduce annual energy use and provide cities with necessary information for setting performance targets, experts say.

    By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025
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    Denis Tangney Jr. via Getty Images
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    New York state offers $5M for existing building energy innovations

    Providers that have already received federal, state, local or other incentive funds can receive up to $1 million to accelerate development of their energy efficiency solutions, the state energy research authority says.

    By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025
  • A Chicago Transit Authority electric bus stopped near the Navy Pier.
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    Courtesy of Regional Transportation Authority
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    Transit agencies continue to add zero-emission buses to their fleets

    More than 7,000 full-size battery and fuel cell electric buses are in use or on the way, according to Calstart’s latest report, but shifting federal policies could affect future growth.

    By • March 14, 2025
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    Choose from a variety of fuel storage tanks to meet municipal needs

    Fuel storage tanks serve a variety of applications in local government, including generator backup, fleets and grounds maintenance.

    By Michael Keating • March 13, 2025
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    EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’

    The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.

    By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025
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    Washington state efficiency standards discouraging gas appliances prevail in federal court

    A federal court ruling in Seattle will make it more expensive for builders who prefer to install or support natural gas appliances, critics say.

    By David Weisenfeld • March 7, 2025
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    Massachusetts cuts $500M from state’s energy efficiency program

    Eversource Energy thanked state regulators “for listening to customer concerns about affordability and taking the difficult action.”

    By Robert Walton • March 6, 2025
  • A rendering of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV in a residential garage with GM's vehicle-to-home charging equipment mounted on the wall.
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    Courtesy of General Motors
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    Massachusetts to deploy 100 bidirectional EV chargers in first-of-its-kind ‘V2X’ pilot

    The program is available for residential, commercial, municipal and school customers and could add 1.5 MW of flexible grid capacity by September 2026, program partners said.

    By Brian Martucci • March 5, 2025