U.S. Army Army has some renewable-energy installations in place, such as solar array (above) at Fort Carson, Colo., but now plans major expansion for renewables. Related Links: DOD press release on new energy task force GAO's 2010 briefing for Congress on DOD's renewable-energy initiatives The U.S. Army, aiming to boost its use of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, is setting up a new task force to help it reach the ambitious goal of deriving 25% of its domestic-use energy from renewables by 2025, up from just 2% now.The Army estimates it will cost as much as $7.1
The Senate on August 5 approved by unanimous consent a Federal Aviation Administration stopgap bill that keeps the agency funded through Sept. 16.The bill is the measure that passed the House on July 20 and includes a controversial rider that trims the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which subsidizes flights to rural airports.Passage of the bill ends a congressional stalemate—at least for now—that had forced the FAA to issue stop-work orders on more than 200 airport projects, including a number of construction and engineering projects.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on August 4 that Senate leaders had broken through the
Related Links: USA Today Editorial: Fight Over FAA Squanders Millions An 11th-hour attempt failed to break a deadlock over a short-term Federal Aviation Administration bill before the August congressional recess began on Aug. 2, raising the prospect of a extended, severe cutback to airport construction around the country.Since the last aviation stopgap expired at midnight on July 26, FAA has had to issue stop-work orders for $10.5 billion in contracts, including nearly $800 million in airport construction projects that were under way.In a second blow to construction, the lack of a new bill prevents FAA from approving new Airport Improvement
Related Links: Congressional Budget Office analysis of Budget Control Act of 2011 Text of Budget Control Act of 2011 After weeks of partisan battles on Capitol Hill, Congress averted a government default by passing legislation to boost the government’s debt limit and trim its budget deficit.Construction industry officials had feared default would have led to widespread interest-rate hikes and a slowdown in project financing and new projects.President Obama signed the measure, the Budget Control Act of 2011, on Aug. 2, a few hours after the Senate approved it by a 74-26 vote. The House had cleared the measure one day
Related Links: Read the commission's draft report In a harsh critique of the nation’s current policy, or lack of policy, regarding spent nuclear fuel and other nuclear waste, a presidentially appointed panel said new storage options for nuclear fuel-- in addition to the site under Nevada's Yucca Mountain--must be investigated, and that a new federal agency to deal with nuclear waste should be created. The commission also urged use of interim storage sites while a long-term repository or repositories are developed. "Put simply, this nation’s failure to come to grips with the nuclear waste issue has already proved damaging
As the clock ticked closer to the Aug. 2 deadline for raising the federal debt limit, the focus shifted to dueling plans from Senate Democrats and House Republicans. Both proposals, unveiled on July 25, would raise the debt cap and cut deeply into federal spending, but the plans themselves differed sharply on the timing and structure.Lawmakers on each side maintained they did not want to see the U.S. default, but they remained at odds and continued to blast the other's proposals. Construction industry and state officials also hope lawmakers can avert default, which economists say could drive up interest rates
Sentiment against the Environmental Protection Agency is running high among Republicans in the House of Representatives, where GOP legislators have pushed to pass or introduced measures that would restrict EPA's ability to move forward with key water and air regulations.Environmental advocates have cried foul, but construction industry officials say many of the EPA rules could stall construction projects. They also say the Republicans are merely responding to businesses' legitimate worries.Steve Hall, the American Council of Engineering Cos. vice president of government affairs, says, “I think Congress is sensitive to [business] concerns. [Business] affects the economy; it affects jobs.” But Hall
Key Senators have reached agreement on more elements of a two-year, $109-billion highway transit bill. However, attaining that funding level requires identifying $12 billion to add to the amount that the Highway Trust Fund can provide, they acknowledge.Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), an architect of the plan, noted at a July 21 hearing that the current authorization expires on Sept. 30. “It's clear that we have to act,” she said. The measure's title will be Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21. But by ENR press time, the bill had not been
Prosecutors are pressing ahead with new charges against contractors for workplace-related accidents.James F. Lomma, a crane company owner who was charged last year in connection with a May 2008 crane accident in New York City that killed two workers, is scheduled to go on trial on Sept. 19. Paul Schechtman, an attorney representing Lomma's firm, has said there is no basis for criminal charges in the case.Lomma, 64, two other firms and a former employee have pleaded not guilty to charges that include second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault.Manhattan district attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said, “[The indictment] is an important
As an Aug. 2 deadline looms on raising the federal debt limit and with no deal yet in sight (at ENR's press time), anxious construction industry officials await Washington's next move as lawmakers negotiate a plan to steer the U.S. clear of a default on its debt obligations. Photo by AP Wideworld DEADLINE NEARS: McConnell (2nd from right) floated back-up plan with phased debt-limit boost. He has been discussing the plan with Reid (3rd from right). Related Links: Center for American Progress Report on Perils of Not Raising Debt Ceiling Construction economists say if congressional leaders and the White House