Uber and bp to provide fast EV chargers to the ride-hailing company’s drivers

Uber drivers use electric vehicles at a rate more than eight times that of the general population in the U.S., an Uber spokesperson said.

By Dan Zukowski • March 31, 2023

NYC launches online portal for city services, benefits

Mayor Eric Adams said the online portal, dubbed MyCity, would make it easier for residents to apply for benefits by reducing bureaucracy and red tape.

By Michael Brady • March 31, 2023

How cities can center equity in EV charging

“Focus more on the people than on the hardware” to implement EV charging equitably, one electric transportation advocate said, such as by talking to residents and listening to their needs.

By Kalena Thomhave • March 28, 2023

Solar technical assistance program will serve 500 more communities by 2027, Department of Energy says

The free program aims to help local governments follow national best practices to expand solar energy use. At least 200 of the new designees will be communities DOE considers underserved.

By Diana DiGangi • March 27, 2023

Every rental unit has level 2 EV charging in its own garage in this Arizona development

Individual chargers will become standard across the housing industry in the future, predicts the property’s development and management team.

By Mary Salmonsen • March 24, 2023

Is your city minimobility-ready?

Cities must transition from favoring full-sized cars and SUVs to prioritizing slower, smaller passenger vehicles that can meet more travelers’ needs in less space, transportation experts say.

By Austyn Gaffney • March 20, 2023

Curbside EV charging startup wins urban infrastructure award at SXSW

Brooklyn-based itselectric plans to offer installation, management and maintenance of the chargers free to cities and property owners.

By Dan Zukowski • March 17, 2023

On climate change, this group of mayors thinks globally and acts locally

Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright discusses how the organization is helping mayors lead on climate policy and implement provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and 2021 infrastructure law.

By Michael Brady • March 17, 2023

$700 million for community EV charging now available from federal grant program

Cities, counties, other local governments and tribes can apply for grants for public charging in urban and rural communities.

By Dan Zukowski • March 14, 2023

Skanska predicts construction costs will rise above inflation in many US cities

The new report examined construction costs in 21 U.S. markets, including Dallas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Seattle.

By Zachary Phillips • March 14, 2023

Biden proposed budget boosts funding for clean energy, permitting, efficiency programs

The budget released Thursday includes $11.9 billion for the Department of Energy climate and clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment, a 20% hike over the FY 23 enacted amount.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023

EPA unveils cybersecurity oversight for public drinking water systems

“Cyberattacks that are targeting water systems pose a real and significant threat to our security,” said Radhika Fox, assistant administrator for the EPA Office of Water, during a teleconference with reporters.

By David Jones • March 6, 2023

$250M for curbing climate pollution, advancing environmental justice available from US EPA

Each of the 67 most-populated U.S. metropolitan areas is eligible for $1 million in planning grants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will follow with $4.6 billion to help cities and states implement their plans later this year.

By Michael Brady • March 1, 2023

PACE programs are a popular strategy for local decarbonization financing: report

Property-assessed clean energy programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 27, 2023

First NYC commercial waste zone implementation could begin in 2024, DSNY says

Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has faced criticism over how long it has taken the New York City Department of Sanitation to advance the waste zones program.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 24, 2023

Subway sandwich chain to install EV charging stations at select stores

The smaller stations will have fast EV chargers that provide a 120-mile charge within 17 minutes for about $20.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 23, 2023

ARPA fund spending shows regional differences in local government priorities, researchers say

Large cities and counties have spent the largest share of state and local fiscal recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan Act on government operations. But their spending on other priorities diverges from there, researchers found.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 23, 2023

EV charging infrastructure is “inadequate and plagued with non-functioning stations”: J.D. Power

Roughly one in five public charging attempts fails, with 72% of them attributed to equipment issues. “Just adding stations isn’t the answer ... we need to make sure those stations are reliable,” one J.D. Power executive said.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 22, 2023

Chicago adopts citywide equity and resiliency plan

The We Will Chicago plan aims to address eight issue areas, including housing and economic development, in its 40 goals and 150 objectives. 

By Michael Brady • Feb. 21, 2023

Tesla to make some of its EV chargers public as White House announces rules for national charging network

The rules will require federally funded chargers to be built in the United States, beginning with final assembly and some manufacturing processes.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2023

Smart city conferences to attend in 2023

The tenth Bloomberg CityLab — a global cities summit — will take place in Washington, D.C., this fall.

By Michael Brady • Updated Sept. 5, 2023

Insulating existing buildings with low-carbon and carbon-storing materials can reduce emissions: report

“Deep energy retrofits” that use certain insulation systems can turn existing buildings into storehouses of carbon instead of emitters of greenhouse gases, according to an RMI report.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 9, 2023

House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects

The Federal Infrastructure Bank would work with state and local partners on private infrastructure investments via loans and loan guarantees, helping finance work such as transportation projects and broadband connectivity.

By Jennifer Goodman • Feb. 8, 2023

FBI thwarts neo-Nazi plot to attack Baltimore Gas & Electric substations, ‘completely destroy’ city

Two suspects were charged in federal court in Maryland with plotting to attack utility substations with firearms. Experts say the plan could have resulted in widespread power outages.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2023

Minnesota may soon require 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040

The bill also calls for utilities to generate at least 55% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035. Waste incinerators in environmental justice areas would not count as clean energy.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 7, 2023