by Whitney Ramos, SF2011 There is an email in my inbox with the subject “CPUC GHG OIR PHC.” Within the context of my office at the SFPUC (that’s the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) I know that the email is about the California Public Utilities Commission’s Greenhouse Gas Order to Institute a Rulemaking, Pre-hearing Conference.Read… Read more »
by Megan Degeneffe, SF2011 Soon after starting work at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) I noticed something strange. I work in the Water Conservation Section, a group dedicated to helping San Francisco customers reduce their water use. The SFPUC, however, is funded by selling water to ratepayers. The paradox is clear- I workRead… Read more »
by Dani Fitts San Francisco Fellow ’11 In my time here at San Francisco, the Board of Supervisors has held two hearings entitled “Report of Assessment Costs for Blighted Properties”. During these hearings property owners are given the opportunity to object to fines levied against them for failing to remove blight from their properties. IRead… Read more »
Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series by SF2011 Fellow Marielle Earwood on lessons she has learned working on San Francisco’s Urban Watershed Framework, inside the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. by SF2011 Fellow Marielle Earwood My role as the Urban Watershed Framework (UWF) Coordinator has been to keep track of theRead… Read more »
The video above gives a great overview of a DOE-sponsored University of Washington project being conducted in Puget Sound to study the viability of tidal power in the area and establish a baseline to evaluate environmental impacts of the turbines. For more information on the project, visit the UW site. Original post
This week’s episode of The Project Management Podcast: This interview from our PM Podcast Project Leadership Series is another one that I did with Susanne Madsen (www.susannemadsen.co.uk). The project leadership tool that we look at today is… Be The Project Champion. So you might be wondering what the difference is between a project leader andRead… Read more »
Day 16 Back to work after a weekend of working on a presentation I’m giving in September at the Illinois Association of Highway Engineers conference in Normal, Ill. I’m really looking forward to the event, and if anyone reading this is going make sure to say hi at the conference! Development Meeting So today wasRead… Read more »
A new kind of tree is growing in Santa Clara County (CA) parking lots. The 12-foot tall silver saplings are topped with photovoltaic cells that produce electricity for county facilities and reduce emissions. The so-called solar trees also create shady parking spaces, which is a popular side benefit. “Most people think it’s covered parking, andRead… Read more »
Creative Commons via tvtropes.org Recently, I have been reflecting a lot on my motivations for engaging in certain areas of my life. The basic question comes down to this: Why do we do the things that we do? Sometimes we start certain projects, initiatives or relationships because we are passionate about the goal, outcome orRead… Read more »
More than a week after Bay Area Rapid Transit (CA) shut down cell phone service to quell a threatened protest, the controversy over the agency’s actions continues. As officials brace for more planned protests today, the board has scheduled a meeting this week to consider developing a policy that defines when (if ever) the agencyRead… Read more »