U.S. Midwest in Danger of Rotating Power Blackouts This Summer June 3, 2022 The power grid in the Central United States could be forced to impose rotating blackouts on some of the hottest days of the summer due to rising demand and plant retirements, federal energy officials said in an…
State Capitol stalemate could risk federal infrastructure dollars
State Capitol stalemate could risk federal infrastructure dollars MAY 30, 2022 Minnesota leaders have been anticipating an infusion of federal cash to bolster the state’s infrastructure — from bridges and roads to cybersecurity and drinking water pipes — on a scale not seen since the New Deal. But some of…
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months May 16, 2022 The White House on Monday said it has released $110 billion in funding from the $1 trillion infrastructure package that seeks to fix crumbling roads, expand broadband internet and improve the electrical grid. Read…
High pump prices the result of a suite of market issues and not simply price gouging, study says
High pump prices the result of a suite of market issues and not simply price gouging, study says Energize Weekly, May 18, 2002 Oil companies have been in the crosshairs of lawmakers for either price gouging or not producing enough oil as gasoline pump prices have soared, but a new…
U.S. and European EV sales climb but more chargers will be needed to sustain growth
U.S. and European EV sales climb but more chargers will be needed to sustain growth Energize Weekly, May 11, 2022 Electric vehicle (EV) sales in both the U.S. and Europe are posting strong gains, but to reach the market penetration governments are targeting – the Biden administration goal is 50…
Brookfield Weighs Takeover of Data Center Firm Switch
Brookfield Weighs Takeover of Data Center Firm Switch May 03, 2022 Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is exploring a takeover of data center operator Switch Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. Read more
Biden to require infrastructure projects be made with U.S. iron, steel
Biden to require infrastructure projects be made with U.S. iron, steel April 18, 2022 The Biden administration is directing federal agencies to ensure that new construction projects funded by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package are made with U.S.-made materials. Read more
Compute North breaks ground on 300MW data center in Granbury, Texas
Compute North breaks ground on 300MW data center in Granbury, Texas April 12, 2022 Compute North is building a 300MW data center at a gas-fired power plant in Texas. The blockchain & HPC data center firm has announced that construction is underway to build a 300MW data center next to…
‘The lights will not go out’ – Energy experts do not foresee EVs overloading US electrical grid
‘The lights will not go out’ – Energy experts do not foresee EVs overloading US electrical grid Apr. 5th 2022 According to research teams and engineers at multiple US energy laboratories, the acceleration of EV adoption will not reach any sort of “tipping” point in which charging EVs will overwhelm…
The Data Center of the Future
The Data Center of the Future 29 Mar 2022 The switch from on-premises data centers to the cloud has enabled companies to offload a lot of the complexity involved in maintaining a data center, providing access to computing, storage and network as a commodity. Yet this switch has created other…
How green rooftops can help cool off hot cities
How green rooftops can help cool off hot cities March 22, 2022 Recent research suggests that green roofs — rooftops covered with greenery or other sun-reflecting materials — can reduce heat in cities. City features like asphalt and concrete absorb and retain a significant amount of heat, creating what is known as…
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks March 21, 2022 President Biden warned on Monday that Russia is exploring the possibility of waging potential cyberattacks against the United States in retaliation for economic penalties imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. Read more
As electrification grows, car dealerships become prime candidates for microgrids
As electrification grows, car dealerships become prime candidates for microgrids March 14, 2022 US car dealerships are finding they need to upgrade their electrical infrastructure — and fast — given that more than half of their sales are expected to come from electric vehicles (EVs) before the decade is out. …
NYC’s First Net Zero Community Brings Housing to Storm-Ravaged Neighborhood
NYC’s First Net Zero Community Brings Housing to Storm-Ravaged Neighborhood March 4, 2022 Along 116 acres of vacant oceanfront land, development has begun on what could become New York City’s first and largest community to reach a goal of net zero carbon emissions. Read more
Florida Infrastructure: Critical strategies the Sunshine State can implement to manage the state’s anticipated growth
Florida Infrastructure: Critical strategies the Sunshine State can implement to manage the state’s anticipated growth 3/1/2022 The pandemic has been accompanied by an influx into Florida of people from California, Illinois, New York and other states. Tops on the list of motivations for the moves: Taxes, quality of life, business-friendly…
Urban green spaces can’t beat climate change on their own
Urban green spaces can’t beat climate change on their own FEB 19, 2022 To make the world a little greener, sometimes you just have to add greenery. This is particularly true in cities, where there’s an increasing awareness that adding green spaces is crucial for developing healthy and sustainable places to live.…
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport pledges net-zero by 2050
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport pledges net-zero by 2050 February 14, 2022 Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the US has unveiled its first carbon policy, incorporating various green measures to reduce emissions. The airport has committed to reaching the City of Atlanta’s 100% Clean and Renewable Energy by 2035 objective and the ACI…
Most Green Buildings — So Far — Aren’t Even Close to Being Carbon-Neutral
Most Green Buildings — So Far — Aren’t Even Close to Being Carbon-Neutral FEB. 3, 2022 Behold the building of the future: mossy stones lying strewn around a hill outside the English city of Windsor, carved, shaped, and incised in the fashions of centuries past. These chunks of 18th-century wall…
In the wake of the Pittsburgh bridge collapse, many questioning safety of bridges across the region
In the wake of the Pittsburgh bridge collapse, many questioning safety of bridges across the region January 31, 2022 The Fern Hollow Bridge, previously rated a poor-condition bridge, collapsed Friday. Read more
How NYC’s public housing authority plans to transform the market for clean heat
How NYC’s public housing authority plans to transform the market for clean heat Jan 24, 2022 Under New York City law, the agency must cut greenhouse gas emissions from these buildings by 80 percent by 2050, and 70 to 75 percent of its emissions come from old steam heat systems with boilers…
Explainer: Do 5G telecoms pose a threat to airline safety?
Explainer: Do 5G telecoms pose a threat to airline safety? January 18, 2022 The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo airlines have warned of a “catastrophic” aviation crisis this week as AT&T and Verizon deploy new 5G services. They said the new C band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could…
Can Anyone Satisfy Amazon’s Craving for Electric Vans?
Can Anyone Satisfy Amazon’s Craving for Electric Vans? Jan. 18, 2022 In the fall, Jeff Bezos tweeted praise for Rivian, a start-up under contract to make 100,000 electric delivery vans for Amazon, and its founder, R.J. Scaringe, calling him “one of the greatest entrepreneurs I’ve ever met.” Then, Mr. Bezos…
Smaller Cities, Poorer Regions Could Be Infrastructure Losers
Smaller Cities, Poorer Regions Could Be Infrastructure Losers Jan. 11, 2022 Is Joe Biden legislating for an America that doesn’t exist? Experts like Bruce Katz of Drexel University, with a long experience in observing and participating in local policymaking, fear that many of the fruits of the recently passed infrastructure bill will…
City audit shows San Diego’s internal technology systems need greater transparency, accountability
City audit shows San Diego’s internal technology systems need greater transparency, accountability JAN. 3, 2022 A new city audit says San Diego must boost the transparency and accountability of its internal computer and technology system so workers can more efficiently deliver services to residents and businesses. The 89-page audit comes as San…
Pandemic-hobbled economy in 2020 led to the lowest U.S. carbon emissions in 37 years
Pandemic-hobbled economy in 2020 led to the lowest U.S. carbon emissions in 37 years Energize Weekly, January 5, 2022 The COVID pandemic depressed U.S. economic activity so much in 2020 that carbon emissions dropped to their lowest level since 1983, with an 11 percent decrease in emissions over 2019 to…
MnDOT dishes $18 million across the state for transportation projects
MnDOT dishes $18 million across the state for transportation projects December 21, 2021 $18 million is going towards transportation projects in eight different cities and counties across the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Tuesday. The funding comes from the state’s Transportation Economic Development program, which selects…
White House releases plan to grow US’s EV charging network to 500,000 stations
White House releases plan to grow US’s EV charging network to 500,000 stations Dec. 13th 2021 The White House released today its plan on spending the $7.5 billion on electric vehicle infrastructure with the goal to grow the US’s national EV charging network to 500,000 charging stations. Read more
Vermont plans to use infrastructure money for roads, electric vehicles, trains
Vermont plans to use infrastructure money for roads, electric vehicles, trains Dec 6, 2021 Last month, Congress passed President Joe Biden’s federal infrastructure bill after several months of delays. Vermont is expected to receive at least $2.2 billion from the bill. Read more
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar Announces Transfer of $2.9 Billion to State Highway and Rainy Day Funds
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar Announces Transfer of $2.9 Billion to State Highway and Rainy Day Funds November 30, 2021 Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today he has completed the transfer of more than $2.91 billion into the State Highway Fund (SHF) and the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF; commonly known as…
Infrastructure bill will allow Massachusetts to advance overdue projects
Infrastructure bill will allow Massachusetts to advance overdue projects Nov 23, 2021 The bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law last week by President Joe Biden promises to spread billions of dollars in new funding across the country. Read more
Smart city district gets green light from City of Houston
Smart city district gets green light from City of Houston 15 Nov 2021 Following the City of Houston’s approval of a community benefits agreement (CBA), an abandoned Sears department store and 16 midtown acres are set to be transformed into an “accessible, walkable and integrated” urban community. Read more
Microsoft: Chinese hackers are targeting Zoho ManageEngine software
Microsoft: Chinese hackers are targeting Zoho ManageEngine software November 9, 2021 Microsoft has sent an alert about a sophisticated Chinese hacker group targeting an obscure bug in Zoho software to install a webshell. Read more
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure November 1, 2021 The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a congressional committee leader agree that officials must take precautionary steps to identify “systemically important critical infrastructure” to reduce risks of pervasive supply chain cyberattacks. Read more
Missouri River Bridge rehabilitation nearing completion
Missouri River Bridge rehabilitation nearing completion Oct. 25 2021 The $4.1 million rehabilitation project of the Route 54/63 bridge is nearing completion and could be done ahead of schedule. Since March, Missouri Department of Transportation contractors have been working to rehabilitate both of the Route 54/63 bridges over the Missouri…
DOE Invests $61 Million for Smart Buildings that Accelerate Renewable Energy Adoption and Grid Resilience
DOE Invests $61 Million for Smart Buildings that Accelerate Renewable Energy Adoption and Grid Resilience October 14, 2021 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $61 million for 10 pilot projects that will deploy new technology to transform thousands of homes and workplaces into state-of-the-art, energy-efficient buildings. These Connected…
25% of all critical infrastructure in the US is at risk of failure due to flooding, new report finds
25% of all critical infrastructure in the US is at risk of failure due to flooding, new report finds October 11, 2021 As a massive investment to repair roads and adapt to climate change faces an uncertain fate in Congress, a new report finds much of the country’s infrastructure is…
After biking boom, some cities beef up infrastructure
After biking boom, some cities beef up infrastructure Oct. 4, 2021 In mid-September, bicycle advocates and members of the Bill de Blasio administration gathered on the Brooklyn Bridge to celebrate the first reconfiguration of the landmark in more than 70 years. In an event de Blasio called “a symbol of New York…
Pelosi vows to pass $1T bill, move ahead on larger measure
Pelosi vows to pass $1T bill, move ahead on larger measure Sept. 28, 2021 With President Joe Biden’s broad domestic agenda at risk of collapse, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday vowed that Democrats will pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill this week and push ahead on the bigger $3.5 trillion social safety…
Massachusetts utilities propose plans to ramp up electric vehicle infrastructure
Massachusetts utilities propose plans to ramp up electric vehicle infrastructure September 21, 2021 Clean transportation advocates are declaring measured support for Massachusetts electric utilities’ proposals to spend $470 million on programs to help the state reach its ambitious goals for electrifying transportation over the next decade. Read more
Stronger storms may require further hardening of infrastructure
Stronger storms may require further hardening of infrastructure SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 Storms are becoming more severe, meaning Louisiana may need to harden road shoulders and embankments more than it has in response to prior hurricanes, a state Department of Transportation and Development spokesperson says. Read more
GOP pressure to block bipartisan infrastructure bill builds in the House
GOP pressure to block bipartisan infrastructure bill builds in the House September 7, 2021 House Republicans could face increased pressure to vote against a bipartisan infrastructure package when they return to Washington later this month with outside groups and conservatives already ramping up the campaign against a $1.2 trillion package they say…
Global EV sales bounce back from the pandemic, set to hit 14 million vehicles by 2025
Global EV sales bounce back from the pandemic, set to hit 14 million vehicles by 2025 Energize Weekly, September 8, 2021 Global electric vehicle sales have rebounded from the pandemic with a forecast of reaching 16 percent of all passenger car purchases by 2025, but the pace remains far short…
Hurricane Ida ravages the Southeast, but New Orleans’ levees hold fast
Hurricane Ida ravages the Southeast, but New Orleans’ levees hold fast Aug. 31, 2021 Following a $14.5 billion upgrade in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the levees surrounding New Orleans that are tasked with protecting the city from another catastrophic flooding incident have held fast in the wake of Hurricane…
NM could get billions in new federal funding
NM could get billions in new federal funding August 23, 2021 Congress is gearing up to approve the largest federal investments in infrastructure and social programs since the Great Depression in the 1930s, and New Mexico could reap huge benefits. Read more
Chicago consortium forges smart city agreement with lighting and pole provider
Chicago consortium forges smart city agreement with lighting and pole provider 16 Aug 2021 A consortium of 21 cities throughout suburban Chicago, Illinois, has reached a final 20-year agreement with Viper Networks to build and operate a variety of smart city projects. Read more
Facebook building solar-powered data center in Arizona
Facebook building solar-powered data center in Arizona 8.16.2021 Facebook will build its newest data center in Mesa, Arizona – powered by 100% renewable energy. The social media giant announced a collaborative effort with the City of Mesa, Arizona Commerce Authority, and the Salt River Project to bring three new solar…
Senate Avoids Solutions on Highway Funding With Another Bailout
Senate Avoids Solutions on Highway Funding With Another Bailout Aug. 10, 2021 Senators allocated more than $100 billion to bail out the Highway Trust Fund in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, pushing off a pain point for lawmakers that have struggled to find a permanent solution of how to pay for…
Federal cybersecurity defenses not strong enough to protect American data, Senate report warns
Federal cybersecurity defenses not strong enough to protect American data, Senate report warns AUGUST 3, 2021 Federal agencies responsible for safeguarding the security and personal data of millions of Americans have failed to implement basic defenses against cyberattacks, according to a report from Senate investigators released Tuesday. The agencies earned…
Biden infrastructure deal could create 500,000 manufacturing jobs, business group finds
Biden infrastructure deal could create 500,000 manufacturing jobs, business group finds JULY 27, 2021 A bipartisan infrastructure deal being negotiated in the U.S. Senate could create roughly half a million new manufacturing jobs by 2024, the end of President Biden’s first term, an analysis conducted on behalf of the trade group Association…
Private network underpins smart city plans for Las Vegas
Private network underpins smart city plans for Las Vegas 20 July 2021 The City of Las Vegas has deployed what is claimed to be the largest LTE, 5G-ready private municipal network in the US. The network is part of a broader plan for new tech-enabled services, economic development and digital…
