Most recent 40 articles: Smartcitiesdive
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State transportation projects need better Federal Highway Administration oversight: DOT audit - Smartcitiesdive  (Apr 4) |
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Apr 4 · Delays could increase the risk of the 2021 infrastructure law funding not achieving its intended benefits, cautions the audit by the Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General. The FHWA oversees approximately $350 billion in funding from the IIJA. The agency provided states with a list of 22 guidance issues in 2022, but as of November 2023 it was still working on four of these items. According to the OIG, FHWA’s review and approval of STIPs is designed to help state transportation departments meet federal requirements including reliable cost estimates and reasonably available funding. The OIG’s audit sampled state transportation departments in Texas, ... Read more ... |
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FEMA makes ‘key changes’ to $1.8B climate resilience grant programs - Smartcitiesdive  (Oct 13, 2023) |
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Oct 13, 2023 · Amid concerns that some communities struggle to access federal climate resilience funding, the agency moved to lower the administrative and financial burden for certain applicants. Both the BRIC and FMA programs look to harden communities against future disasters, from floods to extreme heat and earthquakes. This becomes even more urgent as communities worldwide stare down worsening climate change, which makes many types of extreme weather events more frequent and severe. The grants are competitive, however, which means not every community that wants the funds gets them. Project selections are often skewed toward communities that already have more resources, particularly ... Read more ... |
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Chase launches EV education website to help consumers navigate the electric vehicle purchase decision - Smartcitiesdive  (Jul 25, 2022) |
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Jul 25, 2022 · With growing interest in electric vehicles, buyers face questions around costs, charging and range. To help consumers navigate the electric vehicle purchase decision, Chase, the U.S. consumer and commercial banking arm of JPMorgan Chase, launched a website dedicated to helping consumers learn about, find and purchase electric and hybrid vehicles. Although car buyers show increasing interest in electric vehicles, a recent Consumer Reports survey found that just 9% of respondents described themselves as “very familiar” with the novelties of owning and driving one. “The electric vehicle landscape is complex and quickly evolving,” said Jamie Jones, general manager of luxury ... Read more ... |
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US building codes need a major retrofit to meet climate goals and spare consumers - Smartcitiesdive  (Apr 07, 2021) |
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Apr 07, 2021 · The International Code Council, which rolled back local governments' say in energy efficiency regs for buildings, needs to adapt to the times or step aside, writes Energy Innovation's Sara Baldwin. Sara Baldwin is the electrification policy director at Energy Innovation, an energy and climate policy research and analysis firm. Buildings generate around a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with direct fossil fuels emissions from appliances and heating constituting about 12% of the total. One code-setting entity capable of reducing those figures, the International Code Council (ICC), is shirking its responsibility. After repealing climate smart code ... Read more ... |
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