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.
Thousands of unplugged wells from a century of drilling are leaking pollution, while the state struggles to track money meant to fix the problem.
Officials have pledged faster permitting and infrastructure fixes, but residents point to broken promises after earlier wildfires.
They could act as official intervenors in rate-hike cases, bringing the power of their offices to bear.
The new law will boost funding and restructure oversight of Chicago-area transit agencies as federal pandemic aid expires.
Utilities are spending billions to modernize transmission for renewables, manufacturing and data centers with costs passed on to ratepayers statewide.
Advocates say developers are exploiting a loophole in state air quality regulations.
The state trails far behind Illinois and Ohio, which together hold half of all operating facilities in the region.
A regional design meant to prevent failures during wildfires never worked in practice.
Data center exemptions now make up nearly 80 percent of all economic-incentive spending, even as communities raise concerns about rising power costs.
The sweeping funding initiative is aimed at replenishing supply and fixing failing systems as the state braces for future drought risk.
Construction of Meta’s $27 billion “Hyperion” facility coincides with a more than 600 percent spike in truck crashes.
As utility bills soar, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill faces a high-stakes balancing act over an embattled natural gas project that would stabilize prices—but at a cost to the environment.
The bill is coming due after years of underinvestment in water infrastructure. New research highlights needs in each state and the economic benefits from meeting them.
They’re the foundation of our evolving economy, defining the next generation of growth. Their resource use is misunderstood. And they’re a boon for rural communities.
Extreme weather, chronic underfunding and age are conspiring to keep Louisiana's infrastructure falling behind despite recent federal investments.
The April 2011 outbreak spurred the state to overhaul its emergency systems — now officials say its coordinated efforts may serve as a blueprint for other states.
Residents in four industrial corridor towns can see real-time air quality data — a project environmental groups hope will prompt voluntary emissions fixes without relying on regulation.
The city’s long-delayed groundwater project will serve 500,000 by 2027, reducing dependence on imported water and strengthening drought resilience.
At the Western Governors’ Association workshop in Denver, officials discussed how to modernize transmission, permitting and funding to meet a projected 20-35 percent surge in electricity demand.
Glitches in signal timing, breakdowns and crowding marred the Metro Express debut, as officials ask riders for patience during a 90-day period to fix the new rapid-transit system.
After federal delays and political shifts, the state’s long-awaited broadband expansion is starting over with half the funding — leaving millions of Texans still offline and waiting.
With up to 50 million residents projected by 2070, researchers say the state must invest as much as $154 billion in reuse systems, desalination and aquifer recharge to avoid future shortages.
A newly approved energy package could help nursing homes and assisted-living facilities weather heat waves and cold snaps by bolstering backup power and infrastructure.
The campaign challenges policymakers to experience the city’s transportation inequities firsthand — where one in five serious crashes involves a pedestrian.
After removing 136 malfunctioning cameras, state transportation officials are rebuilding their surveillance network to improve safety and visibility.
Geothermal energy is a reliable, low-emission power source that can repurpose abandoned oil and gas wells. New engineering techniques are attracting rising levels of investment.
Fueled by explosive growth in population and industry, Texas’ total energy use has risen 21 percent since 2007 even as the nation’s overall consumption declined.
Local leaders see data centers, which help power the world’s shift to artificial intelligence, as a way to keep their towns open. Residents worry their way of life — and water — is at stake.
Officials have denied public access to findings on the Gas Co. Tower, one of the city’s tallest buildings, even as engineers warn it could be unusable after a major earthquake without costly retrofits.
Researchers are building the case for putting nuclear microreactors in all sorts of places. Developers will need to work with communities to understand their hopes, concerns and priorities.
With storms intensifying faster, officials consider widening shoulders for emergency travel lanes, though costs and infrastructure gaps challenge implementation.
