Government

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?

Coal Energy Projects Get New Trump Boost With $850M Federal Funding Injection

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:25:43 -0400

But will investment in new, reopened and upgraded coal burning power plants be enough to reinvigorate the long-ailing segment of the U.S. energy industry?

Pittsburgh Readies to Dig Into $1B Sewer Overflow Tunnel Project

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:08:36 -0400

Lane/Brayman’s five-year, $1-billion contract for the Ohio River Tunnel project in Pittsburgh is scheduled to get underway later this year.

California Water Agency Ramps Up Novel Deep-Sea Desalination Plan

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:43:00 -0400

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District this fall will suspend ''pod' at depth in Santa Monica Bay to produce desalinated water using developer OceanWell's innovative technology, with less energy needed and less brine created.

Seven States Sue Feds Over $928B Offshore Wind Cancelled Lease Deal

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:22:00 -0400

Legal actions get second wind as Trump government mounts new strategy to upend the clean energy sector's growth, which state attorneys general say is “blatantly unlawful” and should be nullified.

Fluor and JGC Get Nod to Move Ahead on Giant LNG Canada Next Phase

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:40:00 -0400

Contractor JV will expand British Columbia export terminal, which has become key hub for shipments to Asia, with final investment decision expected this year,

New York State Backs Out of $900M Bronx Bridge Repair and Expressway Widening Plan

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:29:22 -0400

Elevated section of the Cross Bronx Expressway has deteriorating bridges, but community members were not happy with repair options the state DOT offered.

Trump Independence Arch Advances to NCPC Review as Ballroom Appeal Nears

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:08:34 -0400

The proposed commemorative arch in Washington D.C., has received approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and is now under review by the National Capital Planning Commission, even as a federal judge weighs a lawsuit seeking to halt the project.

Gateway Awards $712M NJ Rail Approach Contract for Hudson River Tunnel

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:42:39 -0400

Only two of the four shortlisted teams chose to submit for the latest contract bid, which covers work to tie the new Hudson River tunnel into existing Northeast corridor rail service.

MTA Awards $1B Contract for Second Ave Subway Phase II Station Package

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:54:50 -0400

Skanska, Traylor Bros. and Walsh Construction win MTA contract for the Second Avenue Subway's 106th Street station package, advancing the East Harlem extension.

Port Authority Reopens Popular Manhattan Playground Closed by George Washington Bridge Construction

Fri, 29 May 2026 17:41:34 -0400

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reopened a popular playground in Manhattan.

Denver Looks to Sewers, Geothermal Wells for Downtown Energy Network

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 27 May 2026 13:23:58 -0400

Denver is testing whether sewer heat, geothermal wells and district thermal infrastructure can retrofit dense downtowns without requiring major electrical-system expansion.

EPA May Allow Some Large Facility Pre-Construction Without a Full Clean Air Permit

Tue, 26 May 2026 17:10:22 -0400

The agency has proposed allowing construction to begin on non-emitting components or structures for power generation, data centers and manufacturing under the federal new source review program.

DC Agency Chief Defends Pre-Sewage Spill Maintenance, But System Repair Is Far from Over

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:50:00 -0400

DC Water CEO David Gadis cited long-term access easements, standardized permitting timelines and better regulator field coordination "to prevent a recurrence of the failure," but one stakeholder lamented there was no conclusive spill cause or 'clear plan' to avoid future ones.

EPA Scales Back Limits on PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water

mcfarlandp@enr.com (Pam McFarland) — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:46:51 -0400

US Environmental Protection Agency wants to maintain legally enforceable limits on the most-studied types of "forever" chemicals known as PFAS but would roll back standards established for four other types, including GenX.

Deere Faces Right-to-Repair Lawsuit from Chicago Site Work Contractor

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:04:01 -0400

Class action lawsuit asserts contractor's right to repair its own skid steers, compact loaders and excavators without going through Deere or its dealer network.

Halmar, Skanska Advance Penn Station Rebuild as Delivery Phase Begins

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:27:55 -0400

After months of delays, Amtrak and US DOT names joint venture as master developer to inherit active-rail construction, single-level concourse conversion and complex staging beneath Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.

Federal Agency Spending Review Ramps Up in Congress

mcfarlandp@enr.com (Pam McFarland) — Wed, 20 May 2026 14:43:28 -0400

The appropriations process directing use of federal funds in fiscal year 2027 has begun in earnest, with hearings and markups scheduled in both chambers over the next several weeks.

Investors Back US Renewable Energy Projects But Want Market Uncertainties Fixed

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Wed, 20 May 2026 12:10:00 -0400

Investors and developers are bullish on clean energy to quickly meet nation's power demand surge, but federal actions that undermine projects and remain vague on tax credit rules, as well as slow connection to the grid, could hamper markets.

House Lays Out Multiyear Transportation Funding Plans in BUILD America 250

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 19 May 2026 16:44:22 -0400

Congress’ proposed successor to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act outlines how federal infrastructure funding mechanisms and investment priorities may shift in the future.

White House Ballroom Allocation Hits Snag in Senate, Adding New Uncertainty

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:13:00 -0400

Senate Republicans are revising White House security funding after a procedural setback, adding uncertainty to an already contested project

EPA Moves to Ease Coal Plant Wastewater Rules, Raising Questions for Compliance Work

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:45:42 -0400

EPA’s proposed coal wastewater rule overhaul could reshape compliance work and environmental infrastructure planning as utilities reassess projects amid regulatory uncertainty and shifting grid demands.

Grid Operator PJM Interconnection Aims Changes to Speed New Capacity Adds

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:15:00 -0400

Power grid operator announced that its reopened queue of proposed new interconnections includes applications from 811 projects totaling 220 GW.

FERC Weighs Federal Oversight of AI Data Center Grid Connections

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:23:24 -0400

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plans action on proposal to expand oversight of AI-driven data center grid connections as utilities accelerate transmission upgrades.

Second Piece of Debris Falls Near New York City's George Washington Bridge

jriceenr@gmail.com (Justin Rice) — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:19:34 -0400

One person was injured after debris fell from a bridge ceiling in Manhattan, hitting a motorist's cari in a westbound lane.

EPA 'Forever Chemicals' Guidance Highlights Areas Where More Research Is Needed

mcfarlandp@enr.com (Pam McFarland) — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:40:00 -0400

EPA's interim guidance on best practices to dispose of and destroy “forever” chemicals highlights widely used technologies, but others need further study.

Waterways Council Recommends Program Manager for All River Construction Projects

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Tue, 12 May 2026 16:58:46 -0400

The Waterways Council is calling on Congress to create an Inland Navigation Construction Organization to manage construction on the nation's rivers.

Gas Tax Holiday Push Collides With Highway Trust Fund Fears

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:21:18 -0400

Bipartisan gas-tax suspension proposals are gaining traction as fuel prices surge due to the Mideast conflict, but transportation groups warn the moves could further strain Highway Trust Fund finances.

FEMA Report Steps Up Push to Put States in Driver’s Seat of Disaster Recovery

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:13:05 -0400

Trump administration long-awaited final report on agency reforms, which aims to have states take lead in disaster recovery while tapping federal resources for support, comes as latest agency chief is fired