Government

Hitachi Breaks Ground on $457M Va. Large Power Transformer Plant Expansion

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:34:44 -0400

New public records reveal engineering details behind Hitachi Energy's $457M Virginia expansion, which will establish the country's biggest large power transformer plant.

Massive Mass. Sewer Main Break Closes Beaches North of Boston

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:14:11 -0400

A massive water main break is spewing sewage into a Massachusetts river and closing beaches north of Boston.

As Trump Signals End of US-Mexico-Canada Pact, Contractors See Little Immediate Impact

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:55:00 -0400

Will Trump's USMCA stance change construction? Industry groups say not immediately, but warn that prolonged trade uncertainty could reshape manufacturing investment and supply-chain planning.

PFAS, Project Funding are Key Woes as Drinking Water Providers Convene

mcfarlandp@enr.com (Pam McFarland) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:05:04 -0400

Utilities and industry grappled with multiple demands, from 'forever chemical' remediation to funding shortfalls, at American Water Works Association annual meetingheld June 22-24

Judge Permanently Bars USDOT From Withholding Gateway Grants

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:40:47 -0400

The opinion reaches well beyond one tunnel project, offering a closely watched test of federal grant oversight and administrative authority.

High Court Rules President Can Remove Commissioners and Officers of Independent Agencies

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:39:31 -0400

The 6-3 opinion on June 29 grants Trump broad power to remove members of independent federal boards like the NLRB and FTC.

Walsh-Soletanche JV Advances $669M Delaware Container Terminal

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:12:48 -0400

The project is intended to quadruple the port's container capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and meet growing international cargo demand.

US High Court Sides with Trump to End Protections for Haitians and Syrians

mcfarlandp@enr.com (Pam McFarland) — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 10:00:38 -0400

In a 6-3 opinion, justices said federal agencies have the authority to end temporary protected status, with potential impacts on the construction industry.

EPA Proposes Revamp of NEPA Reviews

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:19:39 -0400

EPA has proposed revisions to its National Environmental Policy Act process that officials say will speed up reviews and make them clearer and more predictable.

US Energy Dept. Offers $17.5B Carrot to Fast-track New Nuclear Plants

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:54:49 -0400

Loan guarantees for long lead components come as administration aims to fast-track nation's AI dominance and more states eye nuclear to meet growing power needs.

Arizona Adopts $11.3B Transportation Program as States Await Next Federal Highway Bill

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:10:29 -0400

Arizona's new $11.3-billion transportation program does more than map future projects—it offers an early glimpse of how states are planning beyond IIJA.

State Audit Clouds Future of Proposed NC Outer Banks Bridge

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:59:57 -0400

Increases in construction costs have more than doubled the project’s original estimate, with the current cost now estimated at approximately $1.2 billion.

Grant Certainty Emerges as New Fault Line in Transportation Bill Talks

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:39:52 -0400

Can project sponsors still trust awarded federal grants as Congress writes the next transportation bill?

NIST Report Details How Design, Construction Flaws Led to Surfside Condo Collapse

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:47:40 -0400

NIST's long-awaited findings conclude design flaws, construction deviations and corrosion left Champlain Towers South vulnerable before its deadly 2021 collapse.

Why Can't the Gordie Howe Bridge Open?

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:23:13 -0400

What ENR has to say about a $4.7-billion piece of critical infrastructure sitting idle as federal officials refuse to explain the delay.

UPDATED Trump Offshore Wind Energy Buyout Deals Grow to Nearly $2.6B, With More Tumult

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:14:05 -0400

Invenergy is the latest to accept $765M buyout of wind lease areas in exchange for new gas projects, but developer still is set to build the 800-mile Grain Belt transmission line for land-based wind and solar energy.

FHWA Sends $908M to North Carolina for Helene Repairs in $1.9B USDOT Disaster Package

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:34:03 -0400

Why is North Carolina receiving more than half of federal agency's latest $1.9B disaster funding package? The answer lies in Hurricane Helene's continuing recovery.

Project Cost, Risk Responsibility Debated at Resilience Conference

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:54:52 -0400

Speakers at New York City event last month discussed need for communities to be better prepared for drastic changes in water levels.

FERC Orders Grid Operators to Rework Data Center Power Rules

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0400

Can the grid keep pace with AI's power appetite? FERC is forcing regional operators to answer that question—and defend their plans.

JetZero Starts Work on $4.7B Greensboro, N.C., Aircraft Campus

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:23:24 -0400

JetZero's $4.7-billion Greensboro, N.C., aircraft campus will require massive site work, capping a 15-year airport strategy to attract aerospace manufacturing.

NJ Punts on Enacting Tougher Coastal Development Rules

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:59:00 -0400

Under new Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D), the Resilient Environments and Landscapes rule (REAL) now has one-year reprieve from July 20 before it mandates higher shorebuilding elevations and other requirements for high-risk area—giving pro and con forces more time to battle over likely amendments.

Navy Maps Out Four Packages for Planned $10B Bremerton Dry Dock Rebuild

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:11:28 -0400

As the U.S. Navy advances a planned $10-billion dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, new documents reveal four major construction packages and phasing.

USDOT Opens $627M INFRA Round With Truck Parking Set-Aside

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:07:26 -0400

USDOT opened applications for $626.7 million in INFRA grants, including a new $200-million truck-parking set-aside and preferences for large freight projects.

Tutor Perini Lands $652M Grid Upgrade at Naval Base Guam

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:37:54 -0400

Critical U.S. Navy power infrastructure will be moved underground as part of a flurry of military construction activity at the U.S. base in the Pacific.

Border Security Bill Passes Congress, Funds CBP Inspection Systems, Civil Works

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:34:33 -0400

What does Congress's new border security funding bill mean for contractors as CBP expands inspection systems requiring civil works at ports of entry?

Mamdani's Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan Sets Big Goals for New York City

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:30:31 -0400

The Mamdani administration detailed strategies for increasing affordable housing, including building more than 200,000 affordable units in the next decade.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump's $100K Fee on New H-1B Visas

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:49:40 -0400

States' lawsuit prevails in court against anti-immigration move, but Trump administration plans to appeal.

Penn Station Renderings Reveal Design for $8B Reconstruction Beneath Madison Square Garden

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:04:47 -0400

Can New York City finally remake Penn Station without moving Madison Square Garden? Newly released renderings offer the clearest answer yet.

Colorado River Agencies Test Framework for Interstate Water Exchanges

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:39:00 -0400

Can Southwest water agencies create a new market for desalinated and recycled water without building pipelines or altering Colorado River water rights?

House AI Bill Targets Workforce, Data-Center Infrastructure as Contractors Expand Use

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:01:18 -0400

Could a new federal AI framework reshape workforce planning and data-center development as contractors ramp up investment in artificial intelligence?