Trends
Massachusetts is showing the way by going to the end users of the products and services governments buy. It’s good for suppliers as well, and produces better results for everyone.
The state recently passed a clean energy package that will require the two largest utilities to provide 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. But the utilities don’t have a plan as to how they will achieve the ambitious goal.
Ford, Lyft and Argo AI announced that they would begin deploying autonomous ‘robotaxis’ as early as this winter. But for now, the self-driving vehicles will have a safety driver and technology monitor in the front seats.
The state will use some of the funds from the multibillion-dollar settlement with Volkswagen to build 60 fast-charging electric vehicle stations to encourage residents to switch to EVs.
More and more states are rolling out digital driver’s licenses, and experts see that trend continuing as federal standards take shape and citizens embrace an improved government experience.
A new study found that adopting electric vehicles more quickly and increasing the amount of renewable energy could nearly eliminate CO2 emissions from passenger and freight vehicles on Oahu by 2050.
The $3.4 billion contract with the Sacramento-based company will begin in 2024 and provide Amtrak with at least 73 new hybrid battery trains. Siemens Mobility claims the new trains will increase sustainability and comfort.
The transportation sector accounts for 29 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and switching freight trains from diesel to electricity could significantly reduce that measure. But officials predict the changeover could be costly.
Slavery was a national issue, but its legacy increasingly is being addressed by local officials. The mayors of nearly a dozen cities have pledged reparations programs.
The city of Refuge has received funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to train 280 high school graduates in web development and cybersecurity for free over the next four years. The program will target marginalized communities.
Braddock, Pa., is where Andrew Carnegie first mass-produced steel. The city, now one-tenth its former size, is home to a new kind of industry: robotic farms that grow greens inside buildings.
The Industrial Development and Export Authority approved as much as $1.5 million for seismic oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but the agency’s leases have been suspended by the Biden administration.
The city has administered at least 188 engineering permits for equipping utility poles with 5G cell arrays. Officials hope that the 5G network will provide a fast and safe connection for residents.
The state will soon have a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant, which Commerce Director Brent Kisling hopes will better position the state to compete for $15 billion in future EV investments.
The state is scheduled to eliminate the sale of all new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, but many residents are hesitant to switch to an electric vehicle due to range anxiety. Installing new chargers will help.
House Republicans proposed a bill that would make several changes to state elections. While some of the provisions may receive bipartisan support, others, like requiring voter ID, are likely to get pushback from Democrats.
Building enough charging infrastructure to capture the anticipated economic and health benefits will be an enormous undertaking. But can the country’s power grid handle the strain of so many EVs plugging in on a daily basis?
As Bitcoin gains momentum, some cities, including Los Angeles, Harrisburg and Raleigh, are allowing Bitcoin ATMs. The trend has both advantages and downsides.
The city’s new $15 million emergency response systems overhaul will encrypt the frequencies of nine city departments, making it no longer possible for the public to monitor police and fire scanners.
Experts in quantum computing say the federal government’s continued support of the emerging technology will have implications for state and local government entities, particularly as it applies to economic development.
Western New York officials hope that federal funding from the Innovation and Competition Act, the proposed infrastructure package and from stimulus relief funds would be used to develop tech hubs and revitalize transportation networks.
While electric vehicles aren’t emissions-free, experts insist they create significantly less pollution than gas-powered vehicles. But ensuring the power grid can handle the switch to EVs is a complicated task.
NJ Transit wants to deploy electric buses using two charging-equipped bus garages and redesigned routes. But some are worried that the EV range won’t be sufficient for some of the longer routes.
California’s central coast will soon receive a 4.6 gigawatt renewable energy hub that will be able to power 1.6 million homes. Officials are touting offshore energy as a way to stabilize the state’s power grid.
The battle over Route 17, a rural highway in upstate New York and a popular route to the Catskills, is a microcosm of national divisions and choices in transportation policy.
The county hopes to convert into a “hydrogen hub” that will supply clean energy to different industries. The first hydrogen fuel station is expected to be active by 2024, faster than any other current commercial project of its kind in the nation.
President Biden claims that rail travel is “environmentally, a lifesaver” and has proposed giving Amtrak $80 billion over eight years to support it as a green travel option. But is it really green if trains still run on diesel?
Lawmakers heard hours of testimony regarding a proposal to create a consumer-owned utility out of the state’s two major electric companies. Many residents support the idea, but some critique the plan as a “government takeover.”
State lawmakers are considering reforms to a power sharing program that would reduce bill credits for residents in the program and add net energy metering. Industry leaders are deeply divided on the package.
Health officials are warning of the significant, negative impacts that online life has had on youth mental health, but AI-based trainings and online therapy could ensure that health services are reachable wherever the child is.
Butte-Silver Bow officials are considering construction of a five-acre utility-scale battery energy storage facility on an open 200-acre plot of land which could help to fill energy gaps. But many residents are opposed.
