Disputed Rebid of New Orleans Flood Project Upheld by Judge

A U.S. Court of Claims judge has ruled the Army Corps of Engineers can resume its rebid of a large flood-control project contract in New Orleans that was interrupted last November, when the winning joint venture, CBY, sued to halt the rebid. The court says the document is under seal, but an attorney for a losing competitor, PCCP, confirmed the May 11 ruling by Judge Victor Wolski. "We are obviously pleased," Neil O'Donnell, attorney for PCCP, told ENR on May 15. The Corps, which began the reprocurement last fall after the losing bidders successfully protested the original $675-million award to CBY, did not say how the process would restart.

Federal Buildings To Be Linked In Energy Management Network

The U.S. General Services Administration awarded a contract to IBM on May 14 to develop software and build a network system of advanced energy-management technology in 50 of the highest energy-consuming buildings in the GSA's inventory. IBM is to develop a system to monitor GSA building performance nationwide and stream data to a central facility, allowing faster energy-use analysis. Development of the system—which GSA will own—and integration of the first 50 buildings is set for completion within 12 months at a cost of $8.5 million. Integration of the next 50 is expected to take another year and cost an additional $3.5 million. Projected annual energy cost savings from the two phases is $11 million.

Georgia Nuke Projects Save$1 Billion in Financing Costs

Georgia Power Co. is on a roll. In December, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized-water reactor for U.S. applications. In February, the company received a combined construction- and-operating license for two 1,100-MW AP1000 reactors, to be added to the Vogtle plant site in Waynesboro, Ga. On May 9, the utility informed the Georgia Public Service Commission that, by locking in financing at historically low interest rates, it will reduce costs for the project by $1 billion. With 45.7% ownership of the project, Georgia Power's total cost is now estimated to be $6.08 billion, or $28 million less than the certified amount.

East African Hydro ProjectGets OK for a 2013 Start

Construction of a $360-million hydropower project in East Africa, funded by the World Bank, is set to start up in mid-2013. The 80-MW plant will serve the East African countries of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The plant was designed by SNC-Lavalin International, with the transmission infrastructure being designed by Fichtner-RSWI. The project was to start in 2009 but was held up by financing delays and negotiations with local residents. The three countries have now resolved the issues. The work includes $224 million for hydroelectric power generation, $77 million for power distribution, $49 million for "social mitigations" and $10 million for "institutional enhancement." Contractor procurement is under way.

Tolls Proposed To Finance New Bridge Over the Ohio River

The governors of Kentucky and Ohio both support tolls to fund a new bridge over the Ohio River at Cincinnati. The Brent Spence Bridge, a 48-year-old span with narrow lanes, carries Interstates 71 and 75 across the river. Replacement proposals call for a $2.4-billion, double-decked structure. Gov. Steve Beshear (D-Ky.) and Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) each favor imposing tolls to pay for a new bridge and accelerating construction to a 2014 start from a 2016 start.