Despite leading a record $92 billion program that is short-staffed, the US Army Corps of Engineers' workforce is only 1,000 stronger than it was a decade ago. A shortage of skilled craft workers is "the number-one cost driver that we're seeing on our projects," and the corps is hiring cost engineers and taking other steps to rein in costs, the corps' Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon said.
A resilient grid to meet summer demand
Con Edison is bringing more reliable, clean energy to meet demand as summer temperatures approach. From undergrounding power lines to modernizing our grid, we're investing in more resilient infrastructure — that's energy for keeping it comfortable. See our initiatives.
Replacing wooden ties with concrete ones are among the steps Amtrak is taking in its $6 billion B&P Tunnel Replacement Program. Newly released renderings reveal further aspects of the plan, which Amtrak says will ultimately allow high-speed operations on all four tracks.
Norwegian hydrogen company Nel Hydrogen plans to build a $350 million plant in Michigan to produce up to 4 gigawatts of electrolyzers per year, making it one of the largest electrolyzer production facilities in the world. The firm has partnered with General Motors to lower the cost of hydrogen and meet the growing demand for the green fuel in industrial and domestic applications such as vehicles.
The Environmental Protection Agency is beginning to invest $3 billion to implement a climate plan with the goal of zero emissions at the nation's ports, the White House announced, adding that funds for initiative come from the Inflation Reduction Act. Another $1 billion will be targeted to curb emissions from trucks that access the ports.
Massachusetts is seeking requests for proposals for as much as 3.6 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, the state's fourth such solicitation. Separately, New Jersey authorities are asking grid operator PJM Interconnection to incorporate in its expansion planning the state's commitment to have 11 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2040.
In October, the Hawaii Department of Health identified elevated levels of PFAS in one of two wells in O'ahu's Kunia Village and, in early March, concerns later confirmed that the second well also might be contaminated prompted the community to switch to bottled water. Many locations in the US have turned up positive for PFAS contamination and testing can help identify the issue but, "[t]he major concern is, people may have been consuming this for many, many years -- maybe even decades," said Jamie DeWitt of East Carolina University.
SmartTake: Across the nation and two US territories, 2,858 places were known to be contaminated a year ago. This map shows where they are and can be searched by address. – Jaan
Geothermal is one of the world's oldest energy sources, but it's just beginning to hit the big leagues and could meet up to 50% of the world's energy needs, says Quaise Energy co-founder and CEO Carlos Araque. In this interview, Araque discusses Quaise's deep geothermal drilling technology and plans for growth.
Dartmouth College researchers are developing robots that could complete expensive underwater infrastructure projects that are often constrained by human limitations. Computer scientists at Dartmouth's Reality and Robotics Lab developed and tested a prototype powered by battery and compressed air that can build concrete structures using a dozen components.
Fire resistance and safety for mass timber construction can be cost-effective. Myles Lacy and John "Buddy" Showalter explore how these structures can feasibly conform to fire-resistance ratings specified by the 2021 International Building Code.
Plinth settlements built around small ponds are providing Bangladesh residents with a reprieve from flooding, which is on track to displace 18 million in the country by 2050, by providing an elevated dry space for homes and possessions and access to clean, fresh water. Friendship, the charity organization bringing the plinth model to Bangladesh, works to secure land donations and help local communities build the plinths, which are allocated to residents based on need.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has updated its probabilistic storm surge model to allow tracking of multiple hurricanes at once and improve forecasting for a wide range of coastal terrain. The model will be in effect for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which officially starts on June 1.
The Federal Aviation Administration published a blueprint for how air taxis will operate, beginning with aircraft types that can fly within the current regulatory and operational environment, using existing helipads and helicopter routes. In the next phase, expected changes include establishing air taxi corridors between major airports and vertiports in city center, the start of remote pilot-in-command operations and improved autonomous flight capabilities.
An abundance of jobs is one major side benefit touted for a clean-energy future, and that should include diversity in hiring, argues Jasmine Robinson, a project manager at IHI Terrasun Solutions. In a podcast interview, Robinson explores how the energy sector can draw more women into the workforce and keep them.
Sometimes I think creativity is magic; it's not a matter of finding an idea, but allowing the idea to find you.
Maya Lin, architect, sculptor, designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Civil Rights Memorial May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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