Infrastructure
It’s an ongoing, multitrillion-dollar challenge to build new and maintain existing infrastructure. This section will explore forward-looking approaches to funding, building and maintaining roads, highways, rail and broadband, as well as water and other utilities.
The increase of energy demand across the country is growing to rates that haven’t been seen since the end of World War II.
The governor’s office has proposed creating a Texas Nuclear Power Fund to incentivize nuclear growth as well as passing pro-nuclear legislation, creating a university research network and bolstering the nuclear supply chain.
If it moves on Taiwan, it’s likely that China would try to distract the United States by attacking our water, power and communications systems. It’s already demonstrated those capabilities here, and we need to be better prepared.
There have been 46 lawsuits filed by the Justice Department, Maryland, Baltimore, the families of the workers and businesses affected against the two companies that own and manage the container ship that was involved in the crash.
The funds will come from $2 billion the U.S. Department of Energy has allotted for 32 projects in 42 states and D.C., to improve the resilience of electricity grids.
When Hurricane Francine hit Louisiana last month, much of Terrebonne Parish lost power and some roads and houses flooded, but most flood-protection measures held strong.
The majority of U.S. agricultural exports rely on the Mississippi River to reach the international market.
An approved measure was supposed to require Internet providers to offer basic broadband interconnectivity to low-income residents for $15 a month. But a consortium of providers and telecom firms argue that should be the FCC’s job.
Elevating buildings to avoid storm surges and flooding can increase the chance of survival for people and homes along the coast. But as hurricanes like Helene, and possibly Milton, continue to break records, building higher may not be enough.
The 30,000 vehicles that took the Francis Scott Key Bridge every day have been rerouted since the March disaster, resulting in at least $108 million worth of time lost. And the six lives lost are priceless to the still-mourning families.
Tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act were designed to drive private-sector investments in clean energy. Where are investments and jobs landing?
The oil major’s U.S. onshore wind energy business, based in Houston, is valued at about $2 billion and has interests in 10 wind farms across seven states.
Michigan appointed a chief infrastructure officer to help localities apply for federal dollars and meet statewide infrastructure goals. What can other states learn from this approach?
We need more welcoming public places where people can connect in person — high-quality, well-maintained parks, trails, libraries and community centers. Investing in them is good for us and good for democracy.
The emergency declaration would kick off a “public education” campaign about road safety for drivers and pedestrians and would jumpstart the implementation of “quick-build” safety projects.
Gov. Jeff Landry praised the state’s investment in coastal protection projects, such as levee infrastructure, as one reason why the Category 2 storm spared most of Louisiana from major destruction.
The bill states that Baltimore “shall be entitled to recover for economic loss” from the bridge collapse which stalled the city’s port activity, reallocated emergency services and impacted local workers. But some legal experts are skeptical.
Through boot camps and training sessions, a group is helping smaller cities and towns with limited resources put together competitive grant applications. More mayors should take advantage of it.
Charlotte’s City Council has approved a sales tax increase to fund transportation. It faces long odds gaining approval from the state Legislature, not to mention spiraling construction costs.
Future in Context
Statewide cybersecurity initiatives, like whole-of-state programs, are offering essential support to smaller communities and agencies. Backed by federal funding, they aim to bridge resource gaps and strengthen defenses against cyber threats.
San Francisco residents will vote in November on whether they want to permanently close two miles of coastline road from cars, which, if passed, will become a historic pedestrian project. But the city is deeply divided on the project’s impacts.
If San Antonio does not reduce its emissions production by Sept. 24, the city may face the possibility of having its ozone pollution status upped to “serious,” which could limit how often natural gas-powered plants are run.
In 2023 the state created the Texas Energy Fund to finance about 10 gigawatts of electric generation capacity in hopes of reducing strain on the ERCOT power grid. Regulators approved 17 companies to receive loans if their projects are viable.
A bipartisan group of more than 350 mayors has committed to ambitious targets for fleet electrification and charging infrastructure.
A boost in federal highway money has helped states break ground on new projects, some of which have languished due to a shortage of funding.
If Eversource Energy, a New England energy provider, follows through with its plan to replace 49 miles of transmission lines in New Hampshire, Maine ratepayers may see changes to their monthly bills throughout the duration of the project.
A Florida startup has installed about 7,500 lights, at least half of which are in Tampa Bay neighborhoods, and estimates they have prevented around 2.6 million pounds of carbon emissions.
Each year, more trees fall in cities than are harvested from national forests, putting infrastructure at risk. Researchers estimate that urban trees could replace about 10 percent of the nation’s annual lumber consumption.
The continuing injustice of Flint should be a wakeup call. With billions flowing from Washington and millions of lead pipes still in place across the country, now is the time to establish access to clean water as a human right.
States can compensate with vehicle and odometer taxes, but local governments can harness new data technologies — including GPS, 5G and AI — to meet the need for more than states’ hand-me-down dollars.
Nationally, 83 percent of new solar projects developed by 2040 will be installed on farms and ranchland. But some believe that the two industries can exist side by side.
