In the European Union, peatlands are largely drained for agriculture resulting in significant environmental damage and CO2 emissions. Rewetting is see…

Butte-Silver Bow commissioners approved a sale-and-purchase agreement with REC Silicon for 627.802 acres and directed proceeds to the Montana Connections economic-development fund; the vote was 8–1 after questions about process and protections.

As part of the comprehensive-plan implementation, the council approved development‑code amendments (docket 5B1–5B18) and the 2026 critical‑areas ordinance docket (5C1–5C32), both passing by 6–1 votes.

The board expressed support for pursuing request-for-appropriation pilots to test AI-assisted land-use permitting and preapproved housing plan toolkits, while advisory groups urged strict guardrails — human review, privacy, liability, cost and local control to avoid preemption.

After a lengthy floor debate over net vs. gross acreage, open‑space quality and homeowner fees, the board amended Chapter 155 to change how cluster subdivisions are authorized; the vote was 4‑1, with Commissioner Krebs dissenting.

Christian Bower, speaking for Grow LC, said the application conforms to the county comprehensive plan, listed accepted staff conditions and volunteered more; many neighbors responded that the project is inappropriate for the site and urged denial or relocation and suggested EPA/state review.

As Arctic power delays grow, Norway promises a new land-use white paper. Will Finnmark finally see action?

At its Sept. 16 meeting FSEC staff briefed the council on the Cascade Renewable Transmission Project (CRT), reporting hundreds of public comments and ongoing tribal and federal coordination. Assistant Attorney General John Thompson said the land-use consistency review is a threshold question, not a merits decision; staff will prepare drafts and a jurisdictional matrix for October.

After residents raised traffic and drainage worries and staff urged waiting for a land‑use update, the Farragut Planning Commission voted to not support rezoning 12.25 acres at 13117 Harrison Road from agricultural to R‑4 (attached single‑family/townhomes).

Planning staff presented a conditional rezoning request for a 35-acre parcel (parcel ID 1402449) to a light-industrial conditional district; staff outlined four conditions including no vehicular access from Schaeffer/Pine/Cedar, a 175-foot undisturbed buffer on the southeastern line, restricted uses, and lighting standards. The applicant (Samaritan's Purse) emphasized job growth and agreed to use White Pine private access and recorded easements.

Multiple residents and farm advocates urged the board to remove Madison's two-mile buffer zone and return land-use oversight to the county; commissioners voted to send the issue to the planning commission for a formal proposal and public hearing.

Legislation permits counties to approve renewable energy facility applications without agricultural land use goals.

Rhode Island struggles to address housing crisis despite passing $120 million bond amid Massachusetts' $6 billion investment.

On first reading the Arvada City Council approved ordinances to annex two water‑treatment parcels at 6809 State Highway 93, rezone them to city open space, and to place a moratorium on primary‑use data center applications. The council set a public hearing for Oct. 6, 2026 at 6:15 p.m.

The commission approved sending three related ordinances (26-27 annexation, 26-28 future land-use amendment, 26-29 rezoning) forward after staff described a roughly 2.11-acre PCD to add three single-story multi-tenant commercial buildings totaling about 18,000 sq ft, buffer walls and stormwater improvements; commissioners and nearby residents discussed existing homes and potential impacts.

Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets staff told the House committee how Act 250 criterion 9(b) defines primary agricultural soils, how NRCS agricultural value groups determine mitigation multipliers (2.0–3.0), and how on‑site set‑asides and offset mitigation fees to VHCB are applied. Members pressed the agency on housing tradeoffs and asked for statewide acreage figures.

The Community Preservation Committee asked the Finance Committee to recommend $1,000,000 in CPA funds to secure a conservation restriction on about 29 acres abutting the river; the Finance Committee voted 7–0 to recommend the article to town meeting.

During public comment at the May 13 commissioners meeting, several residents urged the county to adopt a moratorium on data-center construction and to coordinate guidelines; county counsel and commissioners said moratoria are typically enacted at the municipal level and no county moratorium was adopted.

At a Sept. 17 joint session, county staff and consultants briefed supervisors and the planning commission on technical, utility, water and zoning issues tied to data centers; board members asked questions but took no formal action and asked for a follow-up work session.

House Bill 2388 would designate pivot‑corner solar and agrivoltaic facilities as distributed energy priorities and permit certain solar uses on agricultural land as accessory uses when compatible with ongoing agricultural production; supporters said it unlocks gigawatts of potential and farmer revenue, while land‑use groups called for precise definitions.

Council explores parking regulations to enhance land use and encourage residential growth.

Commissioners confirm single item hearing on land division set for March 11.

Council discusses agenda items, highlighting concerns over item 0.6 and proceeding with others.