Recent articles by Bob Graves from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=186979481 Graves draws on more than 25 years of experience working with private sector companies, nonprofits and state and local governments. The Democratization of Power and the Electric Utility of the Future http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-home-business-electricity-generation-utility-of-future.html Our one-way, hub-and-spoke model for delivering electricity dates back to the days of Thomas Edison. But disruptive technologies are enabling a new model that will transform utilities as we know them. How Edmonton is Finding Value in Its Waste Stream http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-edmonton-value-waste-stream-90-percent-landfill-diversion.html By reusing, recycling or composting everything possible, the Canadian city of Edmonton is on its way to reaching the seemingly impossible goal of diverting 90 percent of trash from landfills. Bakersfield's Creative Solution for Trash-Littered Freeways http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-bakersfield-california-homeless-freeway-litter.html When the state stopped picking up litter on the highways, Bakersfield, Calif., found a sustainable way to get the job done -- and help the homeless in the bargain. Moore's Law and the Difficult Challenge of Predicting Our Energy Future http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-moores-law-renewable-energy-independence-locally-generated-hub-and-spoke.html The ways we produce and distribute energy are going to change, with end users empowered much as in the world of computing. What we can't predict is when that will happen. Sustainability and Our Horizontal Infrastructure http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-sustainable-infrastructure-envision-rating-system.html A new rating system aims to build sustainability considerations into the entire infrastructure process, from planning to implementation. Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Waste http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-lake-michigan-chicago-river-water-supply-efficiency.html An engineering feat more than a century ago created a host of problems for communities that depend on Lake Michigan for their water. But those problems also present opportunities. Cities and the Competition for Energy Efficiency http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-cities-benchmarking-energy-efficiency.html Excellent tools are available to monitor energy use across a community. Isn't it time for cities to be benchmarked against each other? When Cheaper Isn't Better http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-energy-sustainability-purchasing-life-cycle-cost-analysis.html Governments are beginning to look at energy and other life-cycle costs in their purchasing. It's about more than saving money. Lighting the Way to Cleaner Air http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-led-street-light-air-quality-infrastructure-projects.html The way we light our streets can do more than save money for the taxpayers. It can contribute significantly to reducing air pollution. LED Street Lighting Interview with David Gassaway http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/toolkit/LED-Street-Lighting-Interview-with-David-Gassaway.html Get a hands-on perspective on what it takes to start a citywide street lighting upgrade project. Governing Senior Fellow, Bob Graves interview with David Gassaway, management analyst, City of Rancho Cordova, California. Next Generation Street Lighting Toolkit http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/toolkit/Next-Generation-Street-Lighting-Toolkit.html Public sector LED street lighting is an emerging market with tremendous potential for local governments to significantly reduce electricity costs, environmental impacts and maintenance while enhancing lighting quality. Technology is not the major issue. The real challenge is money and appropriate funding models will be critical drivers in the transformation of street lighting. Upgrading existing city street lighting is a capital intensive investment undertaking at a time when municipal governments are fiscally challenged. This toolkit is provided as a resource to help move these projects forward from start to successful implementation.