Infrastructure
Key takeaways from the Explore Act, one of the largest outdoor recreation bills ever
The proposal will streamline the permitting process for outdoor recreation companies, study internet access at National Parks, identify potential long distance bike trails and paths, and support recreation and tourism economies and towns.
Under new partnership with feds, state AGs can investigate airline complaints
States have not been allowed to pursue air carriers for violating consumer protection laws since 1978, but a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation will give attorneys general power to probe and report violations.
Hundreds of millions up for grabs in environmental justice grants
Housing, air monitoring, green jobs and coastal resilience are some of the initiatives that could receive funding under the Inflation Reduction Act.
8 years into America’s e-scooter experiment, what have we learned?
The climate benefits of shared e-scooters depend upon how companies deploy and manage them, and what steps are taken to keep riders safe.
Sponsor Content
New Tools Help State and Local Governments Battle Ransomware, Other Big Disasters
When governments find themselves being ransomed, their choices are typically to pay, which will undercut their ability to deliver key services to their communities due to budget restrictions, or not pay, resulting in the immediate inability to serve their communities and the loss of key data that will inevitably plague them for years afterwards.
Powering down: To prevent wildfires, states try turning off the grid
COMMENTARY | The trend started in California, but now more states are opting to shut off power to parts of the grid in extreme conditions.
Senate rebukes Biden administration on effort to reduce vehicle pollution
Three Democrats and one independent joined the chamber’s Republicans, arguing the Federal Highway Administration overstepped its authority in requiring states to track greenhouse gas emissions. But the president threatened to veto the measure.
‘Valuable and largely overlooked:’ Interest in virtual power plants grows
Virtual power plant programs can be a cost-effective way to support a strained electric grid at a time when huge projected electric demand increases loom.
New Houston mayor reverses course on bike, pedestrian improvements
Mayor John Whitmire ordered pedestrian islands removed, froze projects with bike lanes and suggested cyclists stick to “recreational” trails. It’s a big change in direction from his predecessor’s approach.
EPA issues first-ever drinking water standards for ‘forever chemicals’
The Biden administration also announced nearly $1 billion in newly available funding to help public water utilities implement PFAS testing and treatment.
City-country mortality gap widens amid persistent holes in rural health care access
As rural health services continue to erode, population health declines and mortality rates increase. That endangers local economies and employment, rural health experts say.
Turf wars: States, cities grow skeptical of artificial grass
Bans on synthetic turf look to address its impact on the environment and human health.
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