April 18, 2022

Check out the April 18, 2022 edition of ENR featuring the first utility scale U.S. offshore wind power project as well as an exploration of the question: is the focus on total recordable injury rates a distraction from more severe and deadly construction accidents? This plus news, tech and much more!

Next-Gen Energy Build

US Offshore Wind Energy Challenge: Moving Power to the People

Debra K. Rubin

Mary B. Powers

April 13, 2022

The U.S. will gain much clean energy capacity from scores of giant wind turbines set to be built miles out to sea, but how they link to onshore users and to each other remains the key challenge

Statistics That Mislead

Is the Obsession With Recordable Injury Rates a Deadly Safety Distraction?

Richard Korman

April 13, 2022

Total recordable injury rates have no connection to fatalities, according to a recent study of the statistic—and the death of laborer Mason Mack Harris may be a tragic example.

Ongoing Financial Dispute Stalls $800M Carolina Panthers Project

Disagreement seen over funding for related infrastructure

Jim Parsons

April 11, 2022

The NFL team's owner claims the city of Rock Hill, S.C., failed to make a promised payment for site infrastructure construction.

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Project Delivery

Transportation World Eyes Benefits of Progressive Design-Build

Aileen Cho

April 11, 2022

With an unprecedented amount of federal aid anticipated for highway, bridge and transit projects, the transportation industry is also starting to move further toward progressive design-build.

Infrastructure Act Funding

US Energy Dept. Boosts School Upgrades With $500M Grant Program

James Leggate

April 6, 2022

Grants are set to help fund public school projects that reduce energy costs, such as improvements to lighting and HVAC systems.

Legal

Former Construction COO Indicted for Using Minority Fronts

James Leggate

April 7, 2022

Prosecutors say Brian Kowert Sr., formerly of HBD Construction, engaged in fraud using front companies and falsified records.

Codes and Standards

First US Design Guidance on Disproportionate Collapse Moves Closer to Reality

Nadine M. Post

April 5, 2022

The public has until May 16 to submit comments on the draft of the first U.S. consensus standard addressing disproportionate collapse of structures.

South Florida apartment building evacuated

Structural Issues Force Emergency Evacuation of South Florida Apartment Building

Jim Parsons

April 5, 2022

Structural engineer reported to the city of North Miami Beach that the building was "structurally unsound" and required immediate evacuation.

UK Renews Commitment to Nuclear Power, Looks to New Plant Builds

Peter Reina

April 7, 2022

Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls for 24 GW of power over the next 30 years, including small modular reactors possibly coming on line early in the next decade.

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Climate Adaptation

Decarbonizing Buildings Is More Urgent As GHG Emissions Rise

James Leggate

April 4, 2022

U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report concludes that greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 to hit goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C, or 2.7°F.

Government

Jackson, Confirmed to High Court, Will Face Key Environmental Case

Pam McFarland

April 7, 2022

Senate approves first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

New Federal Pipeline Auto-shutoff Safety Rule Issued

Tom Ichniowski

March 31, 2022

Final U.S. Transportation Dept. regulation aims to cut risks in lines that carry natural gas, carbon dioxide and other hazardous liquids.

Federal Spending

Biden FY23 Budget Plan Has Mixed Results for Construction

Tom Ichniowski

Pam McFarland

March 28, 2022

Long path ahead before Congress sets final spending levels for fiscal 2023.

Biden, Senate Committee Push to Expand US ‘Critical Minerals’ Mining

Mary B. Powers

Debra K. Rubin

April 2, 2022

President invoked the Defense Production Act to strengthen the domestic supply chain, as senators and industry debated strategies and risks to cut reliance on Russia, China and other “unreliable foreign sources” for key metals needed in U.S. manufacturing, clean energy.

Execs Offer Fixes for US Energy Battery Component Shortfall

Mary B. Powers

April 7, 2022

U.S. must scale up critical minerals recycling, technology and component manufacture, said experts at a Senate committee's second focus in a week on EV and clean energy supply chain vulnerability.

Legal

High Court Throws Project Permitting Into 'Disarray'

Pam McFarland

April 8, 2022

Industry groups praise U.S. Supreme Court order reinstating a Trump-era cutback, but environmental advocates say the action will create a lot of confusion.

A train arriving at Union Square Station in Somerville, Mass.

Transportation

Boston Area's Long-Delayed Green Line Extension Approaches Completion

Trains are finally rolling on the $2.3-billion project three decades in the making

Scott Van Voorhis

April 4, 2022

Construction on the $2.3-billion Green Line extension is clanging towards its final stop.

Robotic Inspection Checks Out Tunnel in the Alps Set to Become Rail Link

Custom-built rover scans exploratory tunnel for potential hazardous conditions

Peter Reina

April 12, 2022

Italian engineers had to assess the tunnel's condition after lying idle for five years in a potentially hazardous environment.

Seattle Concrete Drivers Strike Ends Without Contract Resolution

Tim Newcomb

April 11, 2022

More than 300 concrete delivery drivers and support staff returned to work on April 11, ending walkout that lasted nearly five months and impacted major projects.

Regulations

New Federal Building Energy-Use Rules Could Save $15B Over 30 Years

James Leggate

April 11, 2022

The rule is designed to have an impact on energy use and operating costs of new and retrofitted federal buildings.

Tornado Load Standard Advances Toward Inclusion in 2024 Model Building Code

April 13, 2022

A proposal to incorporate the first U.S. guidance on tornado-resistant design into the model 2024 International Building Code passed the International Code Council’s structural committee by a vote of 14-0.

Workforce

Construction Jobs Rise Again, 19K Are Added in March

Tom Ichniowski

April 1, 2022

Industry employment tops pre-pandemic peak for the first time, BLS says.

IIJA Rollout

Biden Launches Infrastructure Act Rural Impact Campaign

Tom Ichniowski

April 11, 2022

White House infrastructure implementation coordinator Mitch Landrieu says IIJA has $14.6 billion in "rural-specific programs."

Dallas Fort Worth Airport to Use Digital Twin for Runway Operations, Maintenance

Jeff Yoders

April 13, 2022

Willow and Parsons Corp. have won a five-year contract from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to create and support a digital twin for the maintenance and operations of Runway 18R/36L and Terminal D, which were recently renovated as part of DFW’s airport-wide modernization.

Autonomous Equipment Startup Built Robotics Secures $64M Series C Round

Jeff Rubenstone

April 13, 2022

With the shortage of equipment operators seen in construction today, automation of heavy equipment is gaining ground among large contractors.

Industry Leads for the Week of April 18, 2022

April 13, 2022

Information derived from Industrial Reports, a market intelligence firm specializing in industrial construction

Pulse: Project News for the Week of April 18, 2022

April 13, 2022

Project news from Dodge Data & Analytics.

Viewpoint

How Argentina Public Works Cope With High Inflation

Nicolas Romano Medina

April 4, 2022

An engineer in the inflation-plagued country comments on how price risk is divided on federal projects.

Construction Economics for April 18, 2022

April 13, 2022

ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices. Historical data and details for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/economics

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Our Publications

ENR

Cover Story

US Offshore Wind Energy Challenge: Moving Power to the People

Is the Obsession With Recordable Injury Rates a Deadly Safety Distraction?

News

Ongoing Financial Dispute Stalls $800M Carolina Panthers Project

Transportation World Eyes Benefits of Progressive Design-Build

US Energy Dept. Boosts School Upgrades With $500M Grant Program

Former Construction COO Indicted for Using Minority Fronts

First US Design Guidance on Disproportionate Collapse Moves Closer to Reality

Structural Issues Force Emergency Evacuation of South Florida Apartment Building

UK Renews Commitment to Nuclear Power, Looks to New Plant Builds

Decarbonizing Buildings Is More Urgent As GHG Emissions Rise

Jackson, Confirmed to High Court, Will Face Key Environmental Case

New Federal Pipeline Auto-shutoff Safety Rule Issued

Biden FY23 Budget Plan Has Mixed Results for Construction

Biden, Senate Committee Push to Expand US ‘Critical Minerals’ Mining

Execs Offer Fixes for US Energy Battery Component Shortfall

High Court Throws Project Permitting Into 'Disarray'

Boston Area's Long-Delayed Green Line Extension Approaches Completion

Robotic Inspection Checks Out Tunnel in the Alps Set to Become Rail Link

Seattle Concrete Drivers Strike Ends Without Contract Resolution

New Federal Building Energy-Use Rules Could Save $15B Over 30 Years

Tornado Load Standard Advances Toward Inclusion in 2024 Model Building Code

Construction Jobs Rise Again, 19K Are Added in March

Biden Launches Infrastructure Act Rural Impact Campaign

Dallas Fort Worth Airport to Use Digital Twin for Runway Operations, Maintenance

Autonomous Equipment Startup Built Robotics Secures $64M Series C Round

Industry Leads for the Week of April 18, 2022

Pulse: Project News for the Week of April 18, 2022

Departments

How Argentina Public Works Cope With High Inflation

Construction Economics

Construction Economics for April 18, 2022

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