Electric and hybrid vehicles have unquestionably carved their place into the market of the immense and indispensable U.S. automobile industry. They offer advantages, including environmental friendliness, quieter operation and fewer maintenance requirements. Their cost per mile can amount to a … Continue reading →
Two fleet-related conferences are currently ramping up and will take place in April. One, the NAFA Fleet Management Association Institute and Expo, leans toward the car and SUV needs of municipalities. The other, the American Public Works Association North American … Continue reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
There’s a lot of gold in them thar hills. “Gold,” in this case, refers to municipal solid waste that can be recycled, reused, composted or converted into energy. It also includes the waste’s by-product of methane, some of which can … Continue reading →
More municipalities are exploring alternative fuels. As they do so, infrastructure becomes an important component. Are shops and technicians ready to handle the inclusion of alternative fuels, particularly gaseous fuels, into the fleet? According to Bill Davis, director of the … Continue reading →
