How cities can encourage faster, cheaper rooftop solar

Permitting delays, inconsistent inspections and local utility rules add thousands to rooftop solar costs, pushing installers to avoid certain jurisdictions. Cities can fix that, a new report says.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 2, 2026

3 things cities can do to address the water crisis

Water infrastructure in the U.S. needs to be updated, and city leaders have a critical role to play.

By Kevin Gast • April 1, 2026

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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

Cities, states, environmental groups sue EPA over repeal of mercury and air toxics standards

Public health and environmental groups say the rollback puts communities at risk. The EPA says it will cut transportation and energy costs.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated April 1, 2026

Puget Sound Energy is turning to EVs for backup power and grid support

The utility is partnering with Ford and Kia to test whether electric vehicles can keep homes running and support grid resilience during outages.

By Brian Martucci • March 26, 2026

Driver’s license rule affecting non-citizens takes effect despite waste hauler concerns

With the new rule, the Trump administration is "jeopardizing the essential services our communities rely on every day,” a union representing public employees said.

By Megan Quinn • March 17, 2026

New York needs more time to meet climate goals, Hochul says

“We just need some breathing room,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, noting high cost estimates for compliance with the 2030 goal. “My job is dealing in reality. This is the reality I have.”

By Diana DiGangi • March 13, 2026

Brooklyn project shows feasibility of using geothermal in dense urban areas

Although installation costs are higher than for conventional systems, geothermal is cheaper over the long term, project consultants say.

By Robert Freedman • March 4, 2026

Data centers pursue on-site power as state and local leaders worry about their impact on utility bills: report

State elections last year demonstrated “voter angst around inflation in utility bills,” according to the report's author. “We’d expect more of the same this year.”

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2026

Federal energy-assistance programs survive budget gauntlet

President Trump signed budget bills to maintain funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program on Feb. 3, 2026.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 6, 2026

Kansas City, Missouri, moves to the forefront of data center zoning with new ordinance

U.S. communities are watching closely as Kansas City reclassifies data centers as industrial facilities and launches a review of their impacts on water, power, climate goals and economic growth.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Feb. 6, 2026

Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Miami metros debate incinerator plans

Advocates continue to pressure officials to close or cut off waste shipments to incinerators in Minneapolis and the Philadelphia area. But progress continues on an incinerator in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

By Jacob Wallace • Jan. 29, 2026

Lawsuits target EPA rollback of coal plant water pollution standards

The plants need flexibility to meet rising electricity demand, the EPA says. Environmental groups argue that undermines Clean Water Act protections for rivers and drinking water sources.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 23, 2026

Miami-Dade County launches innovation pilot with recycling app Scrapp

The partnership with Scrapp, which offers recycling education and data analytics, got a boost from a $100,000 county innovation grant.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 16, 2026

Trump administration unlawfully cut clean energy grants, court rules

The decision is a victory for St. Paul, Minnesota, and a coalition of energy and environmental groups that sued the U.S. Department of Energy after it canceled $7.5 billion in financial awards.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2026

Trump administration sues cities to stop gas appliance bans

Federal courts have been mixed on whether the bans run counter to a federal law that sets appliance efficiency standards, which the government argues preempts the bans.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 9, 2026

14 predictions about what 2026 may hold for cities

AI, infrastructure needs and shifting mobility patterns will shape how cities function in 2026, experts say.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 7, 2026

Home efficiency upgrades could offset data center loads while creating jobs: report

An analysis from energy policy group AnnDyl shows significant potential benefits for local grids, employment and utility ratepayers when data center companies invest in residential energy efficiency.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 5, 2026

How cities are using AI to keep drinking water safe

An important federal deadline for identifying and replacing lead and copper service lines is less than two years away. New technology can help communities meet the LCRI mandates.

By Ajay Sharma • Dec. 22, 2025

As EPA moves to fast-track data centers, some cities are moving to slow them down

The EPA is streamlining Clean Air Act permitting to accelerate development. Will local communities pay the price?

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Dec. 17, 2025

Virginia data centers must pay ‘fair share,’ incoming lieutenant governor says

“There is new energy in this legislature, and with it a real opportunity to build new energy right here in the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 17, 2025

From reactive to predictive: A new era in water asset management

AI-driven leak detection and predictive analysis transform water management—saving money, resources and resilience.

By Michael Casey • Dec. 15, 2025

House bill barring state, local gas appliance bans clears hurdle

California and Washington are among the states with gas bans, and Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland, are among the localities with bans.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 8, 2025

Smart permitting, phase-out of diesel generators could curb data center impacts

A look at what’s happening in California shows that even in an environmentally progressive state, unhealthy emissions and resource depletion are problems needing a solution, an academic report says.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 3, 2025

Power outages getting longer as extreme weather takes larger toll, report says

The average length of the longest power outage has increased in all regions since 2022, according to JD Power. 

By Meris Lutz • Nov. 19, 2025

The water workforce is graying. Here’s what we need to do to restart the pipeline.

Broad-based coalitions must raise awareness of the industry, create training and employment programs and embrace artificial intelligence to grow the U.S. water infrastructure workforce.

By Lori Sutton • Nov. 19, 2025