PCiRoads uses custom equipment for Minneapolis stormwater project
Minneapolis features a busy and lively downtown area that’s home to nearly 57,000 residents along with 216,000 employees each week, per mplsdowntown.com. The city has consistently topped more than $1 billion in new construction permits over the past 11 years … More from our cover sponsor →
What millennials’ waning interest in driving means for transportation planning
PHINEAS BAXANDALL | Guest columnist Senior analyst and program director, U.S. Public Interest Research Group A new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund and the Frontier Group shows mounting evidence that the millennial generation’s dramatic shift … Continue reading →
Top Ten Small cities with the highest number of Energy Star certified buildings
Some of the most energy-efficient cities in the U.S. were located in smaller cities and towns in 2014, as evidenced by a list compiled by energystar.gov — proving that energy efficiency is an attainable goal for a municipality of any … Continue reading →
‘We know what keeps you awake at night:’ NTEA and the Green Truck Summit
NTEA Work Truck Show March 4–6 Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Ind. Registration for The Work Truck Show and the Green Truck Summit is open. For more information visit www.ntea.com/worktruckshow or call (800) 441-6832. Control fleet costs; maximize return on equipment … Continue reading →
Flags of our cities Lancaster Pennsylvania
Settled 1729 The Red Rose City cityoflancasterpa.com In 1907 a resolution was adopted in Lancaster, Pa., that said a municipal flag should be prepared. That directive was not carried out until 1926, however, when two copies of a flag design … Continue reading →
Community solar provides value, savings for municipal utilities
The solar industry is growing at an unprecedented rate throughout the U.S. By the end of 2015, the Solar Energy Industries Association predicts there will be enough solar power capacity installed to power more than 5.8 million homes. Municipal utilities … Continue reading →
Meth: a primer
No municipality is immune from the effects of one of America’s most insidious enemies: methamphetamine. Its impact on individuals, families and communities is ruthless; its purveyors are relentless; and the costs of both ignoring it and fighting it are enormous. … Continue reading →
Historic bridge reuse in the Heartland
Reusing a bridge that has been deemed historically significant preserves local and cultural heritage, and represents a responsible use of resources. The federal program that mandates this type of transfer of ownership, however, as well as mitigation of the impact … Continue reading →
Fleet cost management — It starts with the trucks you buy
By ROBERT “BOB” JOHNSON | Director of fleet relations, NTEA As a fleet manager, you probably spend a significant portion of your time looking for ways to control operating costs. Fuel is always a big portion of a fleet’s budget, … Continue reading →
Branching out
When it comes to identifying the root cause of power outages in the United States, it’s not going too far out on a limb to say that trees are responsible for approximately 30 percent of them. When one tree branch … Continue reading →
Four-wheel carts hit the gas
Quick, convenient and less expensive than heading out onto the highway, golf carts have long been darlings of the post- 8-to-5 crowd. Ecologically minded residents embrace the low emissions; and in communities that permit their widespread use, residents describe the … Continue reading →
Make public information a stormwater program priority
Launching a successful stormwater program can be hard work, and gaining the support of local legislators and the public presents an added challenge. Over the last several years, Lynchburg, Va., has proven that, while gaining community support may not always … Continue reading →
Powering City Hall with the Sun
City hall employees in Falcon Heights, Minn., can call themselves sun worshippers of the safest kind: They don’t have to worry about sunburn or melanoma. According to city administrator Bart Fischer, he and his staff have been enjoying the building’s … Continue reading →
Energy on Wisconsin: one-stop sustainable energy information
A popular mantra among the environmentally conscious during the past few decades has been a call for increased attention to renewable energy. At the same time, technological advancements in wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric energy, among other sustainable sources, has … Continue reading →
Solar-powered lights opening possibilities
Big and small, municipalities of all sizes are eyeing solar-powered LED lights, enticed by savings plus added safety and security. The lights are being utilized in a variety of settings, from pathways, residential roadways, public shelters and bikeways to parking … Continue reading →
Invest in Your Community’s Future — Invest in Solar
Solar PV (photovoltaics) is now an economically viable carbon-free energy source for municipalities to power a portion of their city’s electrical load. The economic viability of solar is a recent phenomenon in most places attributable to the downward trajectory of … Continue reading →
Bright spots in alternative energy options
In February, The Municipal presents special editorial coverage on energy — a topic appropriately scheduled for the month in which more than half of the country sees peak annual demand for residential natural gas, electric and heating oil supplies. As … Continue reading →
