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Illinois Farmer

Illinois Farmer

This short book is a family farm history. It's about my cousin Alvin and his family who've worked their farm at Island Grove for four generations. Alvin, now retired, farmed for 60 years and he'll be the last of the family to work the farm. He tells me how he and his father, and grandfather, and great grandfather worked the land across many seasons. It's a good story of family, faith and nature. Please read the book !

Renewable energy: projects and prices worldwide

Renewable energy: projects and prices worldwide

The UAE's record setting low bids for solar park development signal its potential to become a world leader in renewable energy. According to Dubai's Clean Energy Strategy 2050, announced in 2015, the Emirate will strive to have 75 percent of its total power output from clean energy by 2050. I continue to conduct research into the complexities of low carbon energy in various regions, writing for Oilprice.com Recent articles on Oilprice  see list IEA says crisis creates opportunity for clean energy  read article IRENA sees massive...

In memoriam – Charles Daas

In memoriam – Charles Daas

Charlie was a dear friend, a rare friend, one who cared about his friends and everyone in a deep way. I think all his friends remember him like this. He was a friend who thinks mostly of you rather than himself. I felt he was actually grateful to know me. He was thankful for our friendship. He asked with open interest about my comings and goings. He cared deeply about me. As he cared for all his friends. So the loss of him leaves of deeper and more melancholy void. There are not many friends like Charlie. He can’t be replaced. His caring came...

Dubai

Dubai

I’ve traveled to Dubai several times in recent years to research and write about the city. I became impressed with its solar energy program and, as a curious planner, intrigued by the city itself. I was invited to write a feature length article for Planning called Dubai's Planning Paradox. I've also written on it's renewable energy aspirations and the DGCX.

LNG supply, demand and pricing

LNG supply, demand and pricing

LNG is an interesting niche in energy markets depending on many factors and regional forces. My research seeks to understand global supply and demand and the factors influencing prices. I continue writing on the topic for Oilprice.com Published articles include, The end of the LNG glut  read article New importers keep LNG markets tight  read article The U.S. LNG boom could be about to stall  read article  

Remaking Union Station

Remaking Union Station

Union Station should be a top infrastructure priority of the City of Chicago. It can become the centerpiece of a highly interconnected transit system, one that serves all parts of the city, the metropolitan region and the whole Midwest. It's the single most important piece of infrastructure for the city to focus on now. The current master plan to upgrade the station will increase its capacity but it falls far short of the required transformation. Through-routing promises to put Union Station at the center of a reinvigorated system, becoming a...

Construction technologies promise to improve city building

Construction technologies promise to improve city building

There will be an incredible drive to build and expand cities in this century, requiring much quicker, more efficient ways of planning and construction. The challenges are great but the advances of the digital age are now coming into the construction sector. I've had the opportunity to write about this, interviewing several innovators and entrepreneurs for Builtworlds. My published articles include stories on new construction technologies, urban entrepreneurs and 21st Century cities. Triax launches new equipment tracking sensor  read...

Masdar City

Masdar City

This aspirational city in the Abu Dhabi desert continues to plan and build. It may become a 'greenprint' for urban development if it indeed achieves very low or even zero-carbon. My editor at AramcoWorld pushed me to find metrics. I wrote about the place, the planners, the researchers and their ongoing efforts in Chasing Zero.

Seiter family of Scranton and Conway

Seiter family of Scranton and Conway

This family history tells about three generations of Seiters on their farm in Arkansas. It comes from my mother, Mary Magdalen Mammoser née Seiter, who told me many of her memories from childhood.   Scranton years My grandparents William and Crescentia Seiter had eight children, three sons and five daughters. My mother Mary Magdalen was the second youngest. The eldest was Ann, followed by Elizabeth (Aunt Betty), Genevieve (Aunt Jenny), Andrew (Uncle Andy), Herman, Martin, my mother, and Mildred (Aunt Millie). My grandmother, Crescentia...

A crack in the code

A crack in the code

The arcane controversies of planning codes will never stir up much excitement. But I wrote this article to show planners at work, grappling with the world as it is, facing the constant challenge of bringing ideas into practice. The article, published in Planning (October 2016), is called A Crack in the Code? Form-based codes

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Beyond Burnham Cover

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