Urban Planning/Transportation / Public News Service

According to the U.S. Department of energy, e-bikes topped the 1 million mark in sales in 2022, almost four times the total from 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

Can e-bikes become a carbon reduction force?

Tomorrow Minnesota will reopen online applications for electric bike rebates. Environmental advocates are closely watching consumer demand for …

Reports show newly constructed electric buildings can have lower energy bills than those with fossil-fuel systems. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

‘All-Electric Buildings’ law part of NY building code update

New York's Building Code Council is set to include the All-Electric Buildings Act in its 2025 code update. The 2023 law bans natural gas and other …

The Gettysburg-Whitlock Bay Development Corporation, a grant recipient, will help gardeners make use of an empty lot. (Adobe Stock)

Five SD communities receive Community Challenge grants

AARP has announced its 2024 Community Challenge grant recipients this week, including several in South Dakota. Nearly $4 million is going to about 35…

The current metro area population of Reno in 2024 is 538,000, a 1.32% increase from 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Reno Mayor led this year's U.S. Conference of Mayors

Mayors from across the nation were in Kansas City, Missouri, last week for the 92nd annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Hillary …

Neighbors contributed ideas for the Alleys in Action program at a pop-up event in May. (Adams Avenue Business Association/Taylor Kaczmarek/Sue Peerson)

AARP grants aim to revitalize CA alleys into vibrant public spaces

Some select alleyways across San Diego are set to get vibrant makeovers thanks to a transformative community initiative. Sue Peerson, lecturer in …

The nonprofit Pacific Environment worked with University of California-Berkeley to develop recommendations for decarbonizing oceangoing vessels. (Federico Rostagno/Adobe Stock)<br />

For World Ocean Month, calls to cut emissions, pollution from shipping

June is World Ocean Month and groups fighting climate change are asking President Joe Biden to act to clean up emissions and pollution from the shippi…

North Dakota is moving forward with more than $25 million in federal funding to spur construction of electric vehicle charging stations, mainly in rural areas along interstates. (Adobe Stock)

ND isn't known for EV chargers but statewide network takes next step

Electric-vehicle owners in North Dakota have long called for more action to boost the state's charging station network. There continues to be mixed …

Oil companies have publicly championed tech-based carbon-capture solutions in part because it would allow them to continue selling fossil fuels. (Adobe Stock)

Tech-based carbon-capture projects making headway in local governments

By Ysabelle Kempe for SmartCitiesDive.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pu…

The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance's newest report shows traffic congestion causes pollution to spike twice a day with the recorded air pollution levels significantly higher during rush hours. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Air quality worsens in NYC environmental-justice areas

A new report finds New York City environmental-justice communities face worsening air quality. It's part of the Community Heat and Air Mapping …

'Death by a thousand cuts' for Bozeman's low-income renters

A group formed to fight for the rights of Bozeman's lower-income renters is pushing for mandatory legal assistance for people facing eviction…

Council Bluffs, Iowa, is working with Union Pacific Railroad to reschedule trains and install traffic beacons to ensure residents and emergency service providers are not blocked by trains across multiple sets of tracks at intersections. (Adobe Stock)

Dangerous rail crossings topic of Council Bluffs town hall

Representatives from Union Pacific Railroad will attend a town hall meeting in Council Bluffs tomorrow night to hear about the so-called "triangle of …

The population in the Tucson metro area increased by 0.7% in 2023, bringing the total population to just over 1 million, according to the University of Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

AZ mayor sees federal investments pay off for Tucson

Regina Romero, mayor of Tucson, was one of many local leaders at the 92nd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, which wrapped up this weekend…

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. (Adobe Stock)

Montgomery mayor seeks public safety solutions at U.S. Conference of Mayors

More than 200 mayors, from cities in Alabama and across the country, gathered this weekend to tackle the nation's most prominent issues at the 92nd U.…

Housing among top priorities for Savannah at Mayors' Conference

More than 200 mayors, from cities in Georgia and across the country, gathered through this weekend to tackle the nation's most prominent issues at …

Danyelle Blackwell, Councilwoman, Upper Darby Township, District 4 PA goes for a test drive in an EV during EOPA's United for Health and Energy Security Tour, (Lauren Urbiztondo)

Electric vehicle tour touts clean energy, job creation, cost savings

Pittsburgh is one stop on a nationwide summer tour to raise awareness about electric vehicles and clean energy. The group Elected Officials to …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported power plant pollution exacerbates asthma, creates new asthma cases, causes heart attacks and is the largest airborne emission of mercury. (TomKonrad/Wikimedia Commons)

Danskammer Energy withdraws Newburgh power plant application

Danskammer Energy is no longer seeking an expansion of its Newburgh plant. The original plan called for expanding the company's "peaker plant" meant …

A U.S. Water Alliance report finds maintaining Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding in water infrastructure could reduce service disruptions to water-reliant businesses, saving them 46% over 20 years. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA, U.S. need more water infrastructure investments

Recent reports are calling on Virginia and the U.S. to invest in water infrastructure. The U.S. Water Alliance's Bridging the Gap report reviews two …

The Biden administration is awarding more than $600 million in grants to build the nation's electric-vehicle charging network. Maine is just the fifth state to benefit from what's known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula. (Adobe Stock)

Federal funds boost ME high-speed EV charging network

Clean-energy advocates in Maine are applauding an expansion of the state's electric vehicle charging network. State officials recently announced the …

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation faced unprecedented levels of damage caused by floods and landslides in 2018, leading to costs exceeding $125.7 million for repairing and replacing infrastructure across the state. (Alliance/Adobe Stock)

Pennsylvania braces for extreme weather exacerbated by climate change

Despite the official start of the summer season on Thursday, climate change is exacerbated by extreme weather events in the Keystone State. The …

According to Jonathan Tyndall, about 30% to 40% of farm produce goes to waste and doesn't get used. He says Ripe for Revival is working to make those numbers smaller. (Courtesy of Joe Mecca/Coastal Credit Union)

New mobile market tackles food deserts in North Carolina

A new mobile market is tackling food deserts in North Carolina, where 1.4 million people struggle to find healthy food. Ripe for Revival, a nonprofit …

The Proposition 479 investment plan is projected to create $2.4 billion in net new economic activity per year. (Eduardo Barraza / Adobe Stock)

AARP AZ endorses Prop 479 to strengthen public transit for older adults

An Arizona organization said Proposition 479, which will be put to voters in November, is essential for the growth of the greater Phoenix area and …

Staring July 1, Minnesota drivers 55 and older will only have to take four hours of a driver safety course to get an auto insurance discount, down from the current requirement of eight course hours. (Adobe Stock)

MN finalizes overhaul of driver safety education policy

On average, nearly 40% of traffic-fatality victims in Minnesota are 55 and older. A law change soon goes into effect to help more of these drivers …

Of the nearly 2.5 million people living within the 78 coastal communities in Massachusetts, roughly 55% are in state-designated Environmental Justice Block Groups, communities of color and low-income populations dealing with the effects of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Federal funds help build Boston’s climate-ready workforce

The City of Boston has been awarded nearly $10 million in federal funding to help build a Climate-Ready Workforce. More than 1,000 people will …

Revolution Mill is a former textile factory, spanning 45 acres about two miles outside downtown Greensboro. The 800,000-square-foot development features shops, offices, restaurants and apartments, and 2005 Revolution Mill, a $38 million mixed-use commercial and residential project. (Adobe Stock)

Federal program helps transform NC communities, boost economies

Federal New Market Tax Credits are helping transform abandoned areas and boost local communities in North Carolina and across the nation. In …

MI's Motown a 15-Minute City? City leaders discuss the possibility

By Steve Mencher for Next Avenue.Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

Those behind a new electric ambulance say standard gas-powered EMS vehicles usually only last about seven years. But they say their electric model can stay on the road for a full decade. (Adobe Stock)

You've heard of electric buses, but what about zero-emission ambulances?

From passenger cars to school buses, the transportation sector is steadily ramping up its push for all-electric vehicles. In the future, ambulances …

A 538 poll shows former President Donald is ahead of President Biden by almost 5.5 points in Nevada. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

NV progressive groups react to Trump Las Vegas campaign rally

Donald Trump held a rally on Sunday in Las Vegas - one of his first since being convicted by a New York jury late last month. The former president …

Lansing received more than $5 million from the U.S. Department of Interior to improve the city's tree canopy, using the funding for projects like planting 2,000 trees. (Grindstone Media Grp)

Federal funds revive MI's capital city

The City of Lansing, once teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, has gotten a boost from millions of federal dollars. The funds are a combination of …

When it was adopted last year, Minnesota's Driver's Licenses for All law was forecast to allow more than 80,000 undocumented individuals to begin the process to secure a license. (Adobe Stock)

Several months in, Latino advocates assess MN's Driver's Licenses for All

Events are scheduled this month to inform more people about Minnesota's new law eliminating the need for proof of legal residence to get a driver's li…

The Washington County Water Conservancy District's Quail Creek water treatment plant is currently capable of treating 60 million gallons of water per day. (Adobe Stock)

One UT county receives federal funds for water reuse project

As water scarcity affects states across the West, a Utah community is getting funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help support its water …

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has proposed issuing water withdrawal permits, which would allow several local water utilities to increase the amount of water they pull from the Duck River by about 16 million gallons daily. (RobertMiller/Adobe Stock)<br />

Middle TN's Duck River on list of 'nation's most endangered' waterways

The Duck River, which flows through seven Middle Tennessee counties, has made a national list of "most endangered" rivers. The group American Rivers …

If dairies in Willcox continue to grow, annual water use is projected to increase from an estimated 2,953 acre-feet to 5,085 acre-feet by 2038, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. (Adobe Stock)

AZ town grapples with drying wells, unregulated water use, large ag ops

Wells in the Willcox Basin in southeastern Arizona are drying up, and many are pointing the finger at massive agriculture and cattle operations…

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates its new clean car standards will reduce air pollution enough to provide $13 billion in annual health benefits. (Rh2010/Adode Stock)

PA leaders unite to champion federal clean car standards

The Environmental Protection Agency's new clean car standards are getting praise from groups in Pennsylvania. The EPA estimated by 2032, more than …

Transportation accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

Local WI leaders: Don't mess with EPA car emission standards

With the weather warming up, Wisconsinites will head out for road trips. Some local leaders hope in the future, drivers will pass through their …

In the last decade, floods wreaked havoc across multiple states, resulting in billions of dollars spent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and hundreds of lives lost. (Adobe Stock)

New recommendations could enhance flood resilience in Appalachia

Flooding disasters in the Appalachian region have raised the urgency for better flood risk management. The nonprofit ReImagine Appalachia and …

The National Association of Broadcasters said more than 82 million individuals tune in to AM radio. (bennian_1/Adobe Stock)

Ohio senators back AM radio in new cars, critics warn of costs

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now in Congress would mandate all new cars in the U.S. be equipped with AM radios, and it's stirring a debate in …

Denver resident Jeff Gonzales often finds e-biking to work quicker but said even when the ride does not save time, it is more enjoyable.

Denver turns to e-bike vouchers to help get cars, pollution off roads

By Gabriela Aoun Angueira for Grist.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-P…

The United Nations estimates global shipping is responsible for about 3% of emissions worldwide. (Francis/Adobe Stock)

Cleveland port’s ‘electrification hub’ anchors progress toward net-zero emissions

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

The National Association of Broadcasters said more than 82 million individuals tune in to AM radio. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Kentucky debates AM radios in cars amid electric vehicle shift

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now in Congress would mandate all new cars in the U.S. be equipped with AM radios, and it is stirring a debate …

The National Association of Broadcasters says more than 82 million individuals tune in to AM radio. (kittyfly/Adobe Stock)

AM radio in every car? The debate hits Missouri

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now in Congress would mandate all new cars in the U.S. be equipped with AM radios, which is stirring a debate in …

Michigan currently has tolls in place in certain tunnels and bridges, but not on any roads. <br />(Alexey Stiop)

As millions hit the roads, MI lawmakers consider extra driving fees

As Michiganders hit the road this holiday weekend, state lawmakers are brainstorming ways to help close the state's $3.9 billion road funding gap…

Virginia lawmakers have noted establishing a green bank could help funnel more than $300 million in federal loans from the Inflation Reduction Act into the state. (Adobe Stock)

Youngkin vetoes bill to establish ‘green bank’

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed a bill establishing a green bank in Virginia. Senate Bill 729 was set to create the Virginia Clean Energy Innovation …

By the end of 2026, the BuilditAZ Apprenticeship Initiative Arizona will double the number of construction and trades registered apprentices. (Adobe Stock)

AZ apprenticeship programs look to grow construction, trade jobs

The State of Arizona has received more than $650,000 in grant awards to advance five construction and trade registered apprenticeship programs…

Solar energy helps provide more than 263,000 jobs across the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (chungking/Adobe Stock)

Report: Ohio ranks 17th in U.S. for solar power installations

Ohio homes and businesses have installed enough solar energy to power nearly 300,000 homes each year. A new report released by the Solar Energy …

MI population predicted to decline by hundreds of thousands

CLARIFICATION: The term "death rates" has been replaced with "number of deaths" to more accurately describe this measure. And Ms. Butler is a co-…

The transportation sector in the United States is the main contributor to carbon emissions, with heavy-duty vehicles responsible for more than 20% of this pollution despite comprising only 10% of road vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

New regulations target transportation emissions in Georgia

New federal clean-truck standards in Georgia will improve air quality and public health. The Environmental Protection Agency aims to reduce …

The transportation sector is the largest domestic source of carbon pollution in the U.S.<br />(Nischaporn/Adobe Stock)

Michigan leaders celebrate historic clean car standards

Leaders in Michigan are marking the historic new clean car standards, finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency. The final rule, Multi-…

Planners said one of the biggest challenges in preparing for electric vehicles is changing planning and zoning codes to accommodate EV charging stations. (Adobe Stock)

Regional program helps Chicago-area communities become 'EV Ready'

By Kari Lydersen for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Netw…

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Urban Planning and Transportation