Category Archives: Energy

The Good and the Bad of Driverless Cars for Cities

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Scott Bonjukian

The age of driverless cars is rapidly approaching, and no one seems to know what to do about it. The technology is picking up steam in the behemoth automotive industry while only a few states have regulations on the books … Continue reading →

Posted in Cars, Energy, Government, Land Use, Roads, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged adoption, automated, autonomous, AV, buses, cars, charge, cities, computers, congestion, costs, Driverless, efficiency, electric, emissions, energy, fee, Ford, fuel, funding, gas, Google, highways, lyft, motors, roads, safety, self, sensors, streets, Tesla, timeline, transit, transportation, trucks, urban, vehicles | 3 Comments

Civic Indicators Highlight Seattle’s Progress, Challenges

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Scott Bonjukian

Correction: The SSNAP report has been updated to correct statistics on where Seattle residents work. 38.2 percent of Seattle’s employed residents work outside of the city, not 62 percent. A new report by consulting firm Steinbrueck Urban Strategies, headed up … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Density, Energy, Event Writeup, Food, Housing, Land Use, Parks, Policy, Resources, Schools, Transportation, Water | Tagged access, analysis, budget, capital facilities, City Council, comprehensive plan, electricty, funding, Growth Management Act, historic preservation, infrastructure, neighborhood plan, neighborhoods, parks, performance, Peter, policy, report, ridership, Seattle, Seattle 2035, Seattle Sustainable Neighborhoods Asessement Project, SSNAP, Steinbrueck, strategy, sustainability, transit, urban village, waste, water | 5 Comments

The 12th Man Lives On

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Scott Bonjukian

I don’t really care for football. In fact, I take issue with its non-profit status and insistence on public financing for private stadiums. But I do appreciate its contribution to a community spirit that has enlivened Seattle and the entire … Continue reading →

Posted in Editorial, Energy, Landscape, Resources, Sustainability, Transportation, Water | Tagged 12th Man, activism, attitude, British Columbia, Cascadia, civics, community, culture, geography, identity, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, people, Portland, Seahawks, Seattle, sense of place, spirit, Super Bowl, Vancouver, Washington | 2 Comments

Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Scott Bonjukian

The Pacific Northwest is already being impacted by climate change, according to the latest National Climate Assessment (NCA). The consequences for the region’s economy and natural resources are significant. Washington, Oregon, and Idaho can expect reduced snowpack for water supplies, … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Climate, Energy, Food, Government, Resources, Water | Tagged adaptation, agriculture, British Columbia, Cliff Mass, climate change, fire, floods, Idaho, mitigation, ocean acidification, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Planning, Puget Sound, resiliency, sea level rise, Seattle, seattle times, Washington, water, weather, wildfire | 1 Comment

Seattle Hopes to Restart Neighborhood Relations

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Scott Bonjukian

The Mayor’s Office hosted a “Neighborhood Summit” at the Seattle Center on Saturday for the purpose of connecting city government with citizens. In addition to over 20 city departments and offices, 600 people of all ages and walks of life … Continue reading →

Posted in Editorial, Energy, Event Writeup, Government, Housing, Land Use, Public Space, Resources, Sustainability, Transportation | Tagged City Council, conflict, controversey, Department, development, districts, Ed Murray, elections, event, growth, mayor, Neighborhood Summit, neighborhoods, office, open house, Planning, politics, Seattle, Seattle Center, transportation, voting, waterfront | 2 Comments

Denny Substation Bringing Light to Growing Neighborhoods

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

With growing demand for power in the neighborhoods around South Lake Union, utility department Seattle City Light (SCL) is preparing to build a new electrical substation nearby. It won’t be like the city’s other 11 facilities with cold chain-link fences, … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Government, Land Use, Landscape, Parks, Public Art, Public Space, Sustainability, Uncategorized, Walking | Tagged architects, architecture, Capitol Hill, Denny Substation Project, Denny Way, electrical substation, electricity, infrastructure, NBBJ, pedestrian, power, public, public art, Seattle City Light, Seattle Design Commission, South Lake Union, urban design, utilities | 4 Comments

West Coast Leads Electric Vehicle Sales

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

As electric vehicles gain a foothold in the U.S. auto market, manufacturers are seeing their highest EV sales in west coast cities and states. Data from research firm R.L. Polk shows that Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles are three … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Government, Policy, Roads, Transportation | Tagged charging, charing stations, electric, electric cars, EV, EVs, green highway, incentives, Los Angeles, Oregon, sales, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, west coast | 2 Comments

Study: U.S. Air Pollution Causes 200,000 Early Deaths Annually

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

A study published this summer by the MIT Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment quantifies the startling health impact of air pollution on Americans’ health, finding that about 200,000 people die per year a decade before they otherwise would have. … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Energy, Policy, Transportation | Tagged air pollution, climate change, electricity generation, emissions, fossil fuels, industry, marine, MIT, pollution, power generation, premature deaths, rail, road transportation, study, vehicles | 1 Comment

Proposed Coal Terminals Meet Opposition

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

Energy companies’ plans to export coal to Asia is at the heart of an ongoing debate in the Pacific Northwest, with proposed shipping terminals and coal trains prompting a public outcry that pits environmental concerns against economic interests.

Posted in Climate, Energy, Government, Rail, Roads | Tagged activism, Asia, BNSF, coal dust, coal terminals, coal trains, ecology, energy, export, freight, power, public, Puget Sound, Seattle, traffic, transportation, Washington | 2 Comments

Korea Launches Bus Powered by Wireless Electricity

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has successfully launched a bus powered by wireless electricity in Gumi, South Korea. Unlike electric cars or trains that need to plug-in for charging or get power from overhead wires, respectively, … Continue reading →

Posted in Buses, Energy, Government, Roads, Transportation | Tagged battery, buses, charging stations, electric avenue, electricity, electromagnetic induction, EV, Korea, public transit, wireless | 1 Comment