Utilities: Page 4

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    Column

    How public works can get help paying for PFAS cleanup in wastewater

    City and county water and wastewater plants are now in a prime position to help clean up the pollution—but that doesn’t mean they should be stuck paying for it.

    By Mike DiGiannantonio and Ken Sansone • Feb. 4, 2025
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    The Smart Cities Outlook for 2025: Change is coming

    From new federal policies to growing technologies like AI and robotaxis, cities will encounter many changes while they continue to tackle housing, homelessness, climate and equity issues.

    By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025
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    California cities launch nation’s first public hydrogen utility

    Although the Inflation Reduction Act's 45V tax credit was critical to its formation, the new utility hopes to avoid dependence on the federal incentive.

    By Emma Penrod • Jan. 30, 2025
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    Judge dismisses New York City’s lawsuit against Big Oil

    A state judge ruled the city had failed to demonstrate that ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and the American Petroleum Institute had deceived consumers about the climate impact of their fossil fuel products.

    By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 24, 2025
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    Trump freezes IRA funding

    Trump also revoked what he calls the Biden administration's “EV mandate” and pulled out of the Paris climate agreement as part of several energy-related actions.

    By Kate Magill • Jan. 22, 2025
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    Sonnen, SOLRITE Energy launch grid-optimizing virtual power plant in Texas

    The program aims to relieve congestion and improve renewable power economics on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid, Sonnen USA CEO Blake Richetta said.

    By Brian Martucci • Jan. 17, 2025
  • An electric vehicle charging station co-branded by Flying J and GM Energy with the two company logos visible on the overhead canopy
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    Courtesy of General Motors
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    GM using AI to find the best locations for EV chargers

    The automaker says uncertainty about how to find charging stations remains a hurdle to prospective customers.

    By Eric Walz • Jan. 14, 2025
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    CARB Mid Term Report
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    DOT announces $635M in EV charging, other clean transportation grants

    The grants will support installation of more than 11,500 electric vehicle charging ports as well as hydrogen and natural gas fueling infrastructure.

    By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2025
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    Opinion

    How to keep electric vehicle investments on track in the new political climate

    A clean fuel standard has worked in several states to fund EV infrastructure. It should be tried in more places.

    By Laura Sherman • Jan. 10, 2025
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    Microgrids boost grid reliability, lower costs: Colorado road map

    In the face of rising transmission costs and extreme weather impacts, self-contained grids can benefit both rural areas and urban centers, according to state agencies.

    By Brian Martucci • Jan. 9, 2025
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    6 smart cities trends to watch in 2025

    Transportation systems, housing policy and decarbonization approaches will evolve this year as the Trump administration assumes power and technology continues to advance.

    By Ysabelle Kempe , • Jan. 9, 2025
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    Courtesy of Tesla Inc.
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    Rise in EV financing may signal growing interest among consumers: Experian

    The arrival of new, more affordable models alongside the federal EV tax credit have boosted leasing.

    By Kalena Thomhave • Jan. 3, 2025
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    9 predictions about what 2025 may hold for US cities

    “Playground” cities will thrive, innovative housing programs will proliferate and technology will transform transit and municipal services, these sources say.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff • Jan. 2, 2025
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    Biden raises GHG emissions-reduction goal, but experts say Trump ‘hellbent’ on reversing course

    “Even though the Trump administration may not lift a finger to deliver on this plan, it sets a north star for what the U.S. should be aiming for,” said World Resources Institute's Debbie Weyl.

    By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2024
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    Agencies need to be prepared at the first sign of a cyber-attack.

    Local governments need to recognize that cybersecurity is an important public safety issue, not an information technology or individual department issue.

    By Michael Keating • Dec. 19, 2024
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    Courtesy of General Motors
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    GM, ChargePoint partner to deploy 500 ultra-fast EV chargers

    The two companies plan to open the charging stations to the public before the end of 2025.

    By Eric Walz • Dec. 19, 2024
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    Washington local governments sue to block builder-supported measure favoring natural gas

    Voter-approved I-2066, which prevents the state and local governments from restricting access to natural gas, is unconstitutional, said Seattle, King County and other groups in a lawsuit filed last week.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 19, 2024
  • 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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    Column

    When disaster strikes: How to minimize the fiscal impact of emergency construction

    As the scale and frequency of weather-related disasters continue to escalate, the financial burden on local governments is becoming increasingly severe.

    By Jo Medelman • Dec. 18, 2024
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    Opinion

    The key to successfully deploying heat pump water heaters? Funding innovation.

    Small grants allow local organizations to test new technologies and approaches, a vital step in scaling climate solutions. 

    By Chris Badger • Dec. 17, 2024
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    92% of large NYC buildings meet 2024 carbon emission limits: report

    Site energy use in buildings over 25,000 square feet dropped for the fifth year in a row, with 43% of buildings set to meet Local Law 97’s stricter 2030 targets, the Urban Green Council says.

    By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 16, 2024
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    California approves $1.4B to deploy 17,000 EV chargers, hydrogen fueling infrastructure

    California has about 152,000 public and shared private chargers installed today, and it expects that number to reach 250,000 in the next few years.

    By Robert Walton • Dec. 13, 2024
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    5 community-scale geothermal systems to be built with $35M from DOE

    The projects will demonstrate how communities can leverage energy underground to decarbonize buildings, the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office says.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Updated Dec. 18, 2024
  • 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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    Column

    Cities can take a new look at underfunded mass transit projects

    Mass transit projects, which rely on a mix of federal, state and local funds, often take a back seat to other, more pressing issues.

    By Wes Guckert, PTP • Dec. 11, 2024
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    Opinion

    Stepping up to achieve local climate progress despite federal headwinds

    As a second Trump administration takes office, state and local action will be among the most effective means of continuing the momentum for clean energy deployment and cost reductions.

    By Darren Springer • Dec. 11, 2024
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    Deep Dive

    A Michigan city’s ‘sustainable energy utility’ got the green light from voters. What now?

    By creating a supplemental utility that will focus on scaling up rooftop solar, battery storage and microgrids, Ann Arbor, Michigan, is taking its clean energy future into its own hands.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 10, 2024