Bike Sharing in China –– From Bicycle Graveyards to a Regulated Industry
April 29, 2020 by De Vann Sago Climate change International State and LocalBy Jie Yang, Managing Editor for Development
Online Articles
A National Problem with No National Solution
February 26, 2020 by Sara Douki Energy Fossil Fuels Natural Resources Oil and Gas Renewable Energy State and Local WaterGabriel Dowdell, Staff Contributor
Should the EPA regulate fracking more heavily? Currently, states that benefit financially from fracking regulate the industry.
Court Says Maryland's Public Service Commission can Overrule Local Objections to Renewable Energy Projects
February 13, 2020 by Maxwell Unterhalter Renewable Energy State and LocalBy Kayla Steinberg, Staff Contributor
In July 2019, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s Public Service Commission has the final say on the siting of solar and wind energy projects, prompting concerns by local governments over how to protect farmland from development.
Preservation and Planning in the District: Eco-Friendly Features Contribute to Special Merit under D.C. Historic Preservation Law
April 26, 2019 by Caitlin Meagher State and LocalBy Ilse P. Johnson, Staff Contributor.
Whether a project is one of “special merit” is often a “tug of war” among preservationists, developers, neighbors, and the community-at-large. One way to tug towards special merit status is to incorporate eco-friendly features into the new development.
Too Big on the Pig: America’s Taste for Pork Comes with Costs
March 18, 2019 by Alexander Pappas State and Local WaterBy Catherine Schluter, Staff Contributor
Pork is a big part of the American diet, but pig farming has serious environmental and human health consequences. North Carolina is one of the biggest pork producers in the country, but its state legislature, like many other states, is putting pork profits over sufficient protections.
(Sea) Walling Off the Beach: The Future of California’s Coastal Commons Remains Contested
November 15, 2018 by De Vann Sago Climate change Public Lands State and Local WaterBy Ryan Levandowski, Staff Contributor. As rising sea levels threaten California’s coast, the state’s characteristic beaches have become a battleground for homeowners, cities, and state regulatory agencies. Because coastal adaptation policies often pit preservation of public beaches against private property rights, recent litigation over the issue has posed a difficult question for courts: Who should (literally) give ground?
Houston at a Crossroads: Land Use Post-Harvey
October 17, 2018 by Samuel Ruddy Climate change State and LocalBy Cecilia Turchetti, Staff Contributor
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Houston has continued to develop at an incredible rate. Historically, the city and its residents have strongly opposed zoning, but development in floodplains has sparked a debate about how expansion should look for the booming city. How can Houston continue to grow while ensuring the safety of its residents?
Trotting towards Trouble: the State of the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program
October 3, 2018 by Caitlin Meagher Endangered Species Public Lands State and Local Water WildlifeBy Caroline McHugh, Staff Contributor
The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 protected horses and burros in the American West. Now the population has recovered (and then some). How do federal agencies approach increasingly conflicting mandates for public land management?