The White House has launched a package of proposals--including a new tax credit and grant competition among states and cities--that aim to make commercial buildings 20% more energy efficient over 10 years. Related Links: Summary of the White House Plan The "Better Buildings Initiative," which President Obama announced on Feb. 3 during an appearance at Penn State University, is targeting commercial buildings, which the White House says account for about 20% of total U.S.energy consumption. Obama said the plan could save businesses nearly $40 billion over the next decade in lower energy costs. The plan has several components, some of
In an attempt to move a longsnarled aviation bill, the Senate again is preparing for a floor debate on a two-year, $34.6-billion authorization measure that includes $8 billion for airport construction grants. Senate commerce committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who introduced the measure on Jan. 27, said the new bill is the same as a proposal the Senate approved last March by a 93-0 vote. Rockefeller’s bill does not provide an increase in the current $4.50 passenger facility charge (PFC), except for a new pilot program that would remove the PFC cap completely at up to six airports. PFCs fund
President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address for more funding for highways, transit and other infrastructure has launched what should be a rugged fight with congressional Republicans this year over public-works spending. Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress will push to Photo: Courtesy of The White House President Obama: Wants a six-year highway-transit bill jump-started with $50 billion and proposes an infrastructure bank to leverage private funds. Promises that all work will be “fully paid for” but didn’t say how. Continues to support high-speed-rail lines spread around the U.S., with a goal of high-speed service available
Contractors see some encouraging market signals for 2011, but they still believe it will be a tough year, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors. AGC’s member survey, released on Jan. 24, received about 1,300 responses. It showed that, despite predictions of slight growth in demand for several key sectors and an improving employment picture, construction firms are bracing for at least one more difficult year. Fading stimulus spending and overall weak demand will limit the rebound. “While there are some promising and positive signs in the outlook, the bottom line is 2011 will not be an easy
After a slow start, the Dept. of Energy's stimulus act-funded program to weatherize hundreds of thousands of low-income homes has picked up steam, with more 300,000 homes upgraded. Related Links: ARRA Home Weatherization Program Ramps Up Homes Weatherized By State in November 2010 While all of the American Recovery and Reinvestment-funded program's nearly $5 billion has been awarded to states, less than $2.2 billion actually has been spent in the form of outlays. DOE Secretary Steven Chu announced on Jan. 19 that more than 300,000 low-income homes had been weatherized as of Nov. 30. The new total, which reflect reports
A long-running trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada over lumber pricing has flared up again. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Jan. 18 that he is seeking binding arbitration to settle a disagreement between the two countries over the pricing of British Columbia timber. Lumber produced from that timber is a key component in the construction of single-family housing. To try to resolve lumber-pricing disagreements that stretched back 20 years, the U.S. and Canada in 2006 signed a Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA). The pact set a price threshold at which limits would cease on Canadian lumber exports. A
A new Associated General Contractors of America survey shows that member firms see some encouraging market signals this year but also indications that 2011 still will be tough. Related Links: AGC National 2011 Construction Outlook Survey Results The 2011 AGC outlook survey report, released on Jan. 24, sums up its findings: "Despite predictions of slight growth in demand for several key construction sectors and an improving construction employment picture, construction firms are bracing for at least one more difficult year as the benefits of the stimulus begin to fade and overall demand for construction remains weak." AGC CEO Stephen E.
The National Labor Relations Board is taking aim at newly adopted constitutional amendments that bar a federally recognized path for workers to unionize: signing cards authorizing a union. The NLRB has threatened to file lawsuits against Arizona, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah to block the amendments. The board contends the measures conflict with the National Labor Relations Act and are pre-empted by the U.S. Constitution. The amendments all were approved on Nov. 2. South Dakota’s took effect on that date; Utah’s took effect on Jan. 1. The North Dakota and South Carolina measures are to take effect soon. In
An Obama administration focus on Clean Water Act enforcement has produced a flurry of recently announced consent decrees that would mandate sewer-system upgrades at large and small cities around the country. Settlements announced since January 2010 call for more than $7 billion in infrastructure work, spread over many years. Ignacia Moreno, assistant attorney general for environment and natural resources, said on Jan. 13 that addressing municipal sewer system discharges is an enforcement priority for the Justice Dept. and Environmental Protection Agency. Justice has filed 13 such decrees in federal courts since January 2010, though six have not yet received final
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation hasn’t sought proposals yet for 2011 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. But some 2010 TIGER projects are moving toward construction, thanks to agreements DOT has signed with state and city officials. DOT said on Dec. 29 it signed a $105-million TIGER agreement to help fund two Norfolk Southern Corp. intermodal facilities. A $105-million Rossville, Tenn., complex and a $97.5-million McCalla, Ala., facility each will get $52.5 million from the grant. NS is likely to seek bids for the Tennessee project by the end of February, a spokesman says; the Alabama project will be
