The ‘new normal’: City sectors confront post-coronavirus realities

With costs of the pandemic coming into focus as recovery efforts persist, Smart Cities Dive analyzed how leaders across various departments can use lessons from the COVID-19 crisis to rebuild.

By Chris Teale • May 26, 2020

Blockchain-based renewables project in Los Angeles wins $9M state grant

An initiative in the San Gabriel Valley looks to provide affordable, locally produced energy to 28,000 residents in a disadvantaged community.

By Chris Teale • May 19, 2020

Explore the 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

Pueblo, CO voters reject leaving IOU for municipal utility

Mayor Nick Gradisar had said forming a city-owned utility would help the city lower rates and reach its 100% renewable energy by 2035 goal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 6, 2020

Cities ‘finally waking up’ to the benefits of smart streetlights: survey

The Northeast Group found 59% of the largest U.S. cities are actively converting to LED streetlights, which could help lead to an $8.2 billion investment in smart street lighting over the next decade.

By Chris Teale • May 4, 2020

Global GHG emissions could fall 8% in 2020 amid pandemic: IEA

Coronavirus has reduced emissions and energy demand, but a recovery without clean investments could jeopardize those gains, the group said.

By Chris Teale • May 1, 2020

3 ways to make clean water affordable in America’s smallest communities

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.Water migh...

By Chris Shaffner • April 29, 2020

Chicago requires new building construction include EV charging capabilities

Advocates say the new ordinance makes the city a national leader in efforts to increase the adoption of emissions-free vehicles.

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2020

Enviro group launches OneNYC climate tracker

Urgency behind reaching the plan's targets is increasing as a majority of city leaders, including the mayor, are term-limited come 2021.

By Kristin Musulin • April 27, 2020

Transportation Electrification Partnership proposes $150B federal stimulus package

The proposal calls for investments in zero emission infrastructure, EV adoption, workforce development and other areas to build climate resilience amid COVID-19.

By Cailin Crowe • April 27, 2020

Utilities forced to adjust pre-pandemic emergency plans

Consolidated Edison and other U.S. utilities had developed pandemic operating plans years ago, but officials say flexibility is key to their response.

By Robert Walton • April 23, 2020

New (im)mobility: Can we avoid the private car revenge?

Mobility operators and public leaders must anticipate a post-pandemic shift to single-occupancy vehicle use, and act before urban transportation locks us down again.

By Joël Hazan, Pierre-François Marteau, Benjamin Fassenot • April 22, 2020

Chicago uses anonymized cellphone data to show progress of COVID-19 measures

The city’s public health department is working with BlueDot to gather the location information from thousands of apps on resident phones. 

By Cailin Crowe • April 17, 2020

How one New York town restored drinking water production in just four months

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.Perfluoroalkyl...

By Fil Fina III • April 17, 2020

Clean energy unemployment reaches 18.5%

A new analysis found more than 27,000 clean energy workers filed unemployment claims in May, bringing the total to more than 620,500 clean energy jobs lost since the onset of COVID-19.

By Kristin Musulin • Updated June 15, 2020

‘Living wall’ in Dallas to capture 1,600 pounds of CO2 annually

The wall, made up of over 40,000 plants, will have internet of things (IoT) sensors to monitor plant health and panels to distribute water and nutrients.

By Chris Teale • April 16, 2020

There may be sewage in your city’s drinking water

Far too many water sources are contaminated with sewage from faulty septic systems. But actions taken today can ensure safer water quality tomorrow.

By Chris Shaffner • April 14, 2020

Closing the loop

Circular economy-focused city programs seek to divert materials from landfills and instead reuse them over and over again

By Jason Axelrod • April 13, 2020

Energy efficiency efforts seeing ‘acute pain’ on the residential side due to COVID-19

The sector employs at least 2.4 million people and those jobs are at risk given the disruptions from social distancing protocols, experts say.

By Robert Walton • April 7, 2020

Ann Arbor, MI City Council adopts $1B climate plan

Staff revised the A2Zero plan to better reflect the long-term costs of action or inaction, and to take into account how strategies may evolve as technology and climate changes.

By Chris Teale • Updated June 4, 2020

The CARES Act won’t support cleantech, but cities still can

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator CEO Matt Petersen is urging cities to align priorities around COVID-19 mitigation and climate action while the federal government sleeps on funding.

By Kristin Musulin • April 3, 2020

No wipes in the pipes: Coronavirus cleaning leads to spike in sewer clogs

The use of disinfectant wipes is spiking as residents try to protect themselves from COVID-19. The result: clogged municipal wastewater systems and costly repairs. 

By Katie Pyzyk • April 1, 2020

COVID-19 may sport the thinnest silver lining: a cleaner climate

There is evidence of declining carbon emissions and improved air quality as societies lock down. Experts say potential stimulus funding could present an opportunity to perpetuate these changes.

By Chris Teale • March 19, 2020

Controlling the costs of idling equipment

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.It is safe...

By EquipmentWatch Staff • March 13, 2020

Electrostatic sprayer system kills COVID-19, disinfects public spaces in a matter of hours

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 entire...

March 13, 2020

Will solar work for low-income communities?

Solar for low- and moderate-income customers should either provide guaranteed savings or allow customers to easily withdraw from the contract at any time, the author writes.

By Warren Leon • March 6, 2020