Utilities
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Landfill methane threatens planned storm sewer, Harris County, Texas, lawsuit alleges
Excessive methane emissions and contaminated soil and water could threaten public safety, according to the lawsuit seeking closure and permanent capping of Hawthorn Park Landfill.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 16, 2026 -
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Integration plays key role in curbside organics programs, report finds
Local governments should take a holistic approach to drive participation and cost efficiency, the Natural Resources Defense Council found.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 13, 2026 -
Permission granted by SFPUC
Water reuse at the building level could help cities close the infrastructure gap
San Francisco’s water reuse ordinance offers a model for cities looking to stretch supplies, lower infrastructure costs and take advantage of public-private partnerships.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 13, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Restored Solar for All funding won’t cover the disruption’s ‘devastating’ costs, grantee lawsuit says
Termination of the $7 billion program created additional costs for recipients, developers and the low-income and disadvantaged communities that were to benefit, the plaintiffs say.
By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 7, 2026 -
Robyn Griggs Lawrence/Smart Cities Dive
Plan now for 2027’s top smart city conferences and events
Technology, transportation, housing, climate, finance and more are on the agenda for local government leaders at these upcoming gatherings.
By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Oct. 6, 2026 -
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Cities, states sue EPA over power plant emissions rollback
Chicago, Denver and New York City join multistate lawsuits challenging the agency’s move to end greenhouse gas emissions standards and failure to enforce requirements on existing gas-fired plants.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Oct. 5, 2026 -
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OpinionOn clean energy, bigger is not always better
When Congress revisits clean-energy tax policy, lawmakers should restore incentives for locally driven solar and storage projects, writes Edward Yim at Lawyers for Good Government.
By Edward Yim • Sept. 25, 2026 -
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Second federal judge overturns $7B Solar for All cancellation by Trump administration EPA
The decision in a suit brought by Harris County, Texas, follows a similar ruling last week. A Harris County judge called it “a really important victory for energy resilience.”
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 25, 2026 -
Mario Tama/ via Getty Images
Data CentersCities get more say in data center development under new California laws
Data center developers must disclose energy and water use, pay more for grid infrastructure and undergo environmental review under seven bills Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Monday.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 22, 2026 -
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EPA unlawfully canceled $7B Solar for All program, judge rules
The ruling could revive grants awarded to states, cities and nonprofits for low-income solar projects.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 21, 2026 -
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EPA scraps Biden-era power plant carbon rules, moves to eliminate all power-sector GHG standards
“While mayors continue to advance local initiatives to protect residents, the EPA is moving backwards,” Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Sept. 15, 2026 -
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2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award Winners: Solving real community needs
Addressing energy costs, housing, transportation and community engagement, these initiatives exemplify the innovation that helps cities and counties improve residents’ lives.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Permission granted by Mike Taylor/City of Orlando
Renters benefit from energy-efficient appliances through Orlando program
This Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award winner puts portable energy-saving technology in low-income residents’ hands, reaching renters and homeowners overlooked by most efficiency programs.
By Stephanie Kanowitz • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Megan Quinn/Smart Cities Dive
Food waste collection for multifamily housing expands in D.C.
The city's smart bin program will add another 20 collection locations. It’s part of an effort to increase multifamily composting efforts to meet D.C.'s zero waste goal to divert 80% of waste by 2040.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 3, 2026 -
Courtesy of Office of the Texas Governor
Water cybersecurity gets federal boost in 10 cities and Texas
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is putting nearly $12 million behind water-system cybersecurity and resilience as the White House connects Texas utilities with free cyber defense resources.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 1, 2026 -
Permission granted by Energy Trust of Oregon
ColumnPipes as power plants: How cities can use their water systems to generate clean energy
Cities can turn routine water infrastructure upgrades into long-term energy and resilience investments, but only if they identify the opportunity before valves need to be replaced.
By Dave Moldal • Aug. 24, 2026 -
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Protecting water systems from cyberattacks: 5 steps cities can take now
Hacking is getting easier. But the real problem is that many systems were never designed with cyberattacks in mind, experts say.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 11, 2026 -
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Sponsored by WIX FiltersWhy fleet availability is becoming a defining metric for modern cities
How cities are improving uptime, controlling costs and supporting essential services.
Aug. 10, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
30+ water utility cyberattacks expose a vulnerability across US cities
Attackers remotely accessed industrial controllers at water systems in seven states. The campaign suggests a common weakness utilities everywhere should address, experts warn.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 3, 2026 -
Sponsored by PCL Construction
Can direct potable water reuse overcome its image problem in the US?
From “toilet-to-tap" stigma to trusted solution — reshaping how the U.S. approaches water reuse.
Aug. 3, 2026 -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
$7.6B in clean energy grant cancellations politically driven: court filing
The Energy Department's admission comes as the Trump administration proposes giving political appointees greater authority over grant awards.
By Robert Walton • July 28, 2026 -
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Clean water funding map would get redrawn under Senate bill
The bipartisan overhaul would increase allocations for fast-growing states and reduce funds for others, the first change since 1987 to the EPA revolving fund distribution.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 27, 2026 -
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Data CentersAs data centers expand, cities face tough energy, water questions: report
Data centers’ growing demand for electricity and water forces local policymakers to rethink zoning, permitting and resource planning, a Kansas Health Institute report says.
By Robert Walton • July 22, 2026 -
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Heat pumps, other energy-efficient appliances could cut energy costs by more than $100B a year: report
Policies that would shift the market from electric resistance and gas heating to heat pumps provide the largest potential savings, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says.
By Robert Freedman • July 17, 2026 -
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Local projects would get billions under water infrastructure bill
The Water Resources Development Act, which would provide $30.5 billion for state revolving funds, passed unanimously through House and Senate committees.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 16, 2026
