After a record-breaking 2021, global EV sales are set for another surge in 2022 Energize Weekly, February 9, 2022 After a record-breaking 2021, global electric passenger vehicle (EV) sales are poised to surge again in 2022, reaching 10.5 million, a nearly 60 percent annual increase, according to new analyses of…
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
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack Feb. 1, 2022 wo companies involved in storing and supplying oil and other materials said Tuesday they have been hit by a cyberattack that has impacted operations in Germany. Read more
Cleantech investments soar to a record $755 billion in 2021, BNEF says
Cleantech investments soar to a record $755 billion in 2021, BNEF says Energize Weekly, February 2, 2022 A record $755 billion was invested in energy-transition technologies in 2021 – a 27 percent increase over 2020, according to energy consultant BloombergNEF (BNEF). In addition, climate-tech companies raised $165 billion in equity…
Emergence of the New Payments Paradigm – The Case for Utility CX Transformation
Emergence of the New Payments Paradigm – The Case for Utility CX Transformation By Paridhi Gupta, Marketing, Smart Energy Water Utilities across the geographies have started their journey to improved customer self-service capabilities. Now millions of people enjoy the digital convenience of managing their utility account, tracking usage, paying bills,…
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…
Data centers, EVs drive PJM’s long-term load growth forecast, but it expects some utilities to see declines
Data centers, EVs drive PJM’s long-term load growth forecast, but it expects some utilities to see declines Jan. 4, 2022 The PJM Interconnection expects its summer and winter peak load will grow by 0.4% and 0.7% a year, respectively, over the next decade, according to the grid operator’s latest annual load…
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…
Supervisors approve 103-acre data center plan outside Haymarket that could trigger new electric transmission lines
Supervisors approve 103-acre data center plan outside Haymarket that could trigger new electric transmission lines Dec 8, 2021 Prince William County supervisors approved a 103-acre data center campus outside Haymarket on Tuesday that Dominion Energy officials anticipate will likely require a new electrical transmission line in the area. Read more
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
EV sales poised to set a record in 2021, forecast to reach a 20 percent market share by 2025
EV sales poised to set a record in 2021, forecast to reach a 20 percent market share by 2025 Energize Weekly, November 24, 2021 A booming global electric vehicle (EV) market is forecast to post more than 7 million in sales of battery-electric and hybrid plug-in cars in 2021, double…
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
Oversight finds ‘small lapses’ in security led to Colonial Pipeline, JBS hacks
Oversight finds ‘small lapses’ in security led to Colonial Pipeline, JBS hacks 11/16/21 A series of “small lapses” in cybersecurity led to several recent successful ransomware attacks, the House Oversight and Reform Committee concluded in a staff memo released Tuesday. Read more
‘We could handle it right now’ — AEP chief says U.S. power grid can sustain influx of EVs
‘We could handle it right now’ — AEP chief says U.S. power grid can sustain influx of EVs NOV 12 2021 The U.S. power grid will be able to handle the influx of electric vehicles in the coming years, American Electric Power CEO Nick Akins told CNBC on Friday. 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…
Alpha Wireless Unveils Antenna Solutions to Enable Utility Network Modernization
Alpha Wireless Unveils Antenna Solutions to Enable Utility Network Modernization Aug 24th, 2021 Alpha Wireless is launching the Alpha Wireless AW3874 dual-band antenna, engineered to empower utilities to modernize and digitize their communications infrastructure. With support for both 900 MHz and 3.5 GHz / Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum…
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…
Global clean energy technology investment reached a record $500 billion in 2020
Global clean energy technology investment reached a record $500 billion in 2020 Energize Weekly, August 11, 2021 Global investment in clean energy technologies reached a record $501.3 billion in 2020, with renewable energy generation accounting for 60 percent of the total, according to a BloombergNEF analysis. The 2020 figure represents…
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…
Bipartisan $1T Senate infrastructure bill focuses on nuclear, carbon capture, transmission
Bipartisan $1T Senate infrastructure bill focuses on nuclear, carbon capture, transmission Aug. 3, 2021 A bipartisan group of senators on Sunday unveiled its nearly $1 trillion infrastructure bill, formalized into text following a 67-32 consensus to advance the legislation. The vote to advance the bill included the support of 17 Republicans. Read…
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…
Connecticut launches nine-year effort to build up EV charging infrastructure
Connecticut launches nine-year effort to build up EV charging infrastructure July 19, 2021 The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved a nine-year program to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure installation in the state. PURA established a statewide Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Program that provides a combination of incentives for…
Democrats closing in on deal to unlock massive infrastructure bill
Democrats closing in on deal to unlock massive infrastructure bill 07/12/21 Senate Democrats indicated on Monday that they are close to a deal on a budget resolution that will pave the way for them to pass a sweeping, multi-trillion infrastructure bill along party lines later this year. Read more
Do cities devote too much space to parking? Some are changing the rules
Do cities devote too much space to parking? Some are changing the rules Jul 6, 2021 For urban planners, parking rules established decades ago have become a contentious 21st-century challenge. Parking takes up about one-third of land area in U.S. cities; nationwide, there are an estimated eight parking spaces for…
Recently passed bill could accelerate 5G deployment across Pittsburgh
Recently passed bill could accelerate 5G deployment across Pittsburgh June 29, 2021 Pennsylvania passed House Bill 1621, or the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act, in a move that could make the Pittsburgh region more competitive with other tech hubs around the country. Read more
New York City Department Of Environmental Protection Partners With Arcadis To Drive City-Wide Resilience
New York City Department Of Environmental Protection Partners With Arcadis To Drive City-Wide Resilience June 21, 2021 Arcadis today announced its partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to launch a $53 million program designed to engage property owners across the city with resiliency measures that improve local and…
Lawmakers introduce American Cybersecurity Literacy Act
Lawmakers introduce American Cybersecurity Literacy Act June 28, 2021 Bipartisan House lawmakers introduced legislation to increase cybersecurity literacy and security awareness among the American public amid a spike in cybersecurity threats against critical infrastructure. Read more