tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81381358875469112622024-03-12T22:28:41.588-05:00Infrastructure WatchNews, commentary and links on infrastructure and environmental issues.Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.comBlogger539125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-2505624499917063932017-12-16T15:01:00.000-06:002017-12-16T15:01:45.171-06:00Infrastructure News<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p>
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<i>Missouri DOT Explores Solar Roads</i><br />
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INFRASTRUCTURE</div>
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<i>Maps of U.S. Infrastructure<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Washington+Post">The
Washington Post</a></i> has an online article that includes six informative
maps about U.S. infrastructure. We encourage readers to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/maps-of-american-infrastrucure/?_lrsc=b95fffb8-3eea-4d40-9fb8-742c9b35e59e&tid=graphics-story">check
it out</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Missouri Gets F for Road Safety<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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That <a href="http://www.nsc.org/">National Safety Council</a> gave <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
an F for road safety in its recent <a href="http://www.nsc.org/Pages/State-of-Safety.aspx"><i>State of Safety: A State-by-State Report</i></a>. Missouri’s low score
is a result of the lack of laws relating to child passenger protection, texting
while driving, seat belts and other transportation <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/safety">safety</a>
issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">state</a>
received and overall grade of F and was ranked lowest in the country (ranked 51<sup>st</sup>
out of all states and the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=District+of+Columbia">District
of Columbia</a> and ranked 49<sup>th</sup> for road safety) . In addition to
road safety, the report considers safety issues in workplaces, homes and
communities. You can find the <a href="http://www.nsc.org/NSCDocuments_Advocacy/State-of-Safety/State-One-Pagers/Missouri.pdf">Missouri
scorecard here</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.nsc.org/NSCDocuments_Advocacy/State-of-Safety/Methodology.pdf">NSC’s
scoring methodology</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Missouri Still Contender for
Hyperloop<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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We previously noted that a <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Kansas+City">Kansas City</a>
to <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=St.+Louis">St.
Louis</a> route was entered into a competition for <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=hyperloop">Hyperloop One</a>
as it considers routes for a high-speed, tube magnetic levitation system.
Apparently the 240 mile route across Missouri to connect the two <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Midwest">Midwestern</a>
metropolises is still in the running. You can find more <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyperloop-one-unveils-its-vision-for-america-details-11-routes-as-part-of-global-challenge-300435890.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is a link to another articles on a potential hyperloop in Missouri:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://newatlas.com/missouri-hyperloop-25-minutes/51604/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3BP2H0%2BLZTQQeGplYlC27GlQ%3D%3D">Proposed
Missouri hyperloop would forge 25-minute connection across the state</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Missouri Transportation
Improvements Stalled<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Columbia+Missourian">The
Columbia Missourian</a></i> recent published an <a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/greitens_gauge/greitens-gauge-infrastructure-improvements/article_955e96a0-ca21-11e7-b1d7-7bb711f64f8b.html">evaluation</a>
of Missouri <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=governor">Governor</a>
Eric Greitens’ campaign promise to improve state transportation infrastructure.
Though the governor recommended supplemental <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/appropriations%20budget%20earmarks%20spending">appropriations</a>
for the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Department+of+Transportation">transportation
agency</a> in his fiscal year <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=2018">2018</a> <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/appropriations%20budget%20earmarks%20spending">budget</a>,
he has not proposed new or increased funding sources and generally has opposed
increased <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">taxes</a>.
Recent bills in the state <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+General+Assembly">General
Assembly</a> that would increase fuel taxes have also failed to pass.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are some additional articles on Missouri’s transportation funding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2017-04-12/missouri-house-strikes-down-proposed-gas-tax-hike">Missouri
House Strikes Down Proposed Gas Tax Hike</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/20171213/task-force-seeks-consensus-on-new-source-of-road-funding"><span lang="EN">Task force seeks consensus on new source
of road funding</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.newstribune.com/news/missouri/story/2017/dec/14/task-force-considers-fuels-tax-increase/704306/"><span lang="EN">Transportation task force considers fuels
tax increase</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Texting Lanes Coming to Miami<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Apparently it is hard for some people to put down their cellular phones
and pay attention to something else. The Miami Dade Express Authority has
decided it is easier to change the roads than change behavior. It is planning
to install to install bumpers on one lane of a highway and designate it for texting
use.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Infrastructure Watch usually passes on thing like this without comment,
but this seems like a bad idea. It may keep texters from wandering into other
lanes, but it seem like they can still get into a lot of other troubles. In
addition, it does nothing to address texting while driving in other lanes or on
other roads. IW believes there is a role for technology in addressing this
issue and that we have to be realistic about human behavior, but on the whole
this does not seem like a very expensive way to address just a small part of
the problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For all of you texters who won’t be driving <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Florida">Florida</a>’s
bumpered, baby lanes: STOP IT!<o:p></o:p></div>
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At any rate, you can read more about this <a href="http://theplantain.com/lanes-to-be-dedicated-to-texting-2/">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Incidentally, Florida got a F for road safety in the NSC State of
Safety report, where it ranked 44<sup>th</sup>. It’s overall grade was a D,
with a rank of 40<sup>th</sup>. You can see the <a href="http://www.nsc.org/NSCDocuments_Advocacy/State-of-Safety/State-One-Pagers/Florida.pdf">Florida
scorecard here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Philadelphia Unearths Wooden
Water Pipe<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Recently a construction crew digging in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>
came across segments of wooden water pipe that were probably installed in 1812.
Fortunately, Philadelphia is not still using these pipes. When they were
installed, they would have carried water from the Schuylkill River that was
pumped up by steam engine. You can read
more about it <a href="http://news.wef.org/found-in-philadelphia-200-year-old-wooden-water-mains/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3BiiX3Du3JTUKqrRCT309S3w%3D%3D">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Poop Engineer: Wastewater
Blog<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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IW welcomes another engineering and environment blog to the web, <a href="http://poopengineer.blogspot.com/">The Poop Engineer</a>. IW is not
associated with The Poop Engineer, though the author worked at the same company
for a while. Good luck, Andy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Water Weirdness<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Apparently some UK utilities uses dowsing rods to find water
pipes. IW does not recommend this, but
it’s interesting that people cling to it. Here are links to articles on the
practice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/05/22/478854808/are-indians-turning-to-the-supernatural-in-subterranean-search-for-water"><span lang="EN">Are Indians Turning To The 'Supernatural'
In Subterranean Search For Water?</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/british-water-utilities-admit-they-use-divining-rods-to-find-leaks/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3BrZVml0AmT1%2BCycOBm6HpqQ%3D%3D">British
water utilities admit they use divining rods to find leaks</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://medium.com/@sallylepage/in-2017-uk-water-companies-still-rely-on-magic-6eb62e036b02">In
2017, UK water companies still rely on “magic”</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.csicop.org/si/show/testing_dowsing_the_failure_of_the_munich_experiments">Testing Dowsing: The Failure of the Munich
Experiments</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/21/565746002/u-k-water-companies-sometimes-use-dowsing-rods-to-find-pipes?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3Bx8KgU4XaSliSzI4PvGjw6Q%3D%3D"><span lang="EN">U.K. Water Companies Sometimes Use Dowsing
Rods To Find Pipes</span></a><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/nov/21/uk-water-firms-admit-using-divining-rods-to-find-leaks-and-pipes"><span lang="EN">UK water firms admit using divining rods
to find leaks and pipes</span></a><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/water_dowsing/pdf/water_dowsing.pdf"><span lang="EN">Water Dowsing</span></a><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/nov/22/water-firms-backtrack-admissions-divining-rods"><span lang="EN">Water firms backtrack on admissions that
they use divining rods</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-16834172399009602962017-05-06T07:21:00.000-05:002017-05-06T07:21:39.288-05:00America Needs Infrastructure<h1>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The United States has a huge infrastructure for transportation, energy
and water. It is expensive to keep it in
good shape to, not to mention upgrading it to meet new demands. Below is a list of links to recent posts and articles
on the subject of our degrading infrastructure and what it will cost to fix it.</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><a href="http://time.com/4707062/trump-infrastructure-taxes/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Want
America to be Great Again? Pay for it (Jones, P., <i>Time</i>, Apr. 18, 2017)</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/water-systems-health-boil-orders_us_57363feee4b060aa781a6244">It’s
Disturbingly Common For Americans To Go Days Without Safe Drinking Water
(Erbentraut, J., Huffington Post, May 23, 2016)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/07/28/Obamas-Big-Pitch-for-Infrastructure-Falls-Short.aspx#page1">Obama’s
Big Pitch for Infrastructure Falls Short (Pianin, E., & Ehley, B., <i>Fiscal Times</i>, July 28,2013)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/13/03/03/blue-ribbon-panel-reveals-shaky-state-of-nj-s-water-gas-power-and-transportation-infrastructures/">Blue-Ribbon
Panel Reveals Shaky State of NJ's Water, Gas, Power, and Transportation
Infrastructures (Johnson, T., NJ Spotlight, Mar. 4, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/performance-of-power-grid-slips-even-as-americans-pay-more-to-maintain-it-outages-last-longer/2013/03/05/0242de66-85a3-11e2-a80b-3edc779b676f_story.html">Performance
of power grid slips even as Americans pay more to maintain it; outages last
longer (<i>New York Times</i> [Associated
Press], Mar. 5, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2013/Feb-15/206545-fixing-americas-infrastructure-obamas-mission-impossible.ashx#axzz2Kuopajsy">Fixing
America’s infrastructure: Obama’s mission impossible? (Debusmann, B., <i>Daily Star</i>, Feb. 15, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/us/looking-for-new-ways-to-pay-for-roads-and-bridges.html?ref=us&_r=1&">Governments
Look for New Ways to Pay for Roads and Bridges (Schwartz, J., <i>New York Times</i>, Jan 14, 2013)</a><u><span style="color: blue; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/13/usa-transportation-idUSL1N0BDAL220130213">No
easy funding fix for U.S. transportation woes –lawmaker (Palmer, D., Reuters,
Feb. 13, 2013)</a><u><span style="color: blue; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"> <span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/usa-infrastructure-cities-idUKL1N0BFB9120130215">U.S.
cities face deluge of water system costs, threats to funds (Reuters, Feb. 15,
2013)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/feb/05/water-bills-how-much-increasing-by">Water
bills: how much are they increasing by? (Sedghi, A., <i>Guardian</i> DataBlog, Feb. 5, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/infrastructure-needs-in-america.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Infrastructure
Needs in America (Infrastructure Watch, Feb. 7, 2012)</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-81446517759441875172017-05-06T07:10:00.000-05:002017-05-06T07:10:01.975-05:00Energy, Transportation, Water & Missouri News<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>U.S. Military Agency Seeks to
Protect Grid<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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The <a href="file:///E:/To%20Post/darpa.mil">Defense Advanced Research
Project Agency (DARPA)</a> has announced plans to develop systems for the
protection of critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks. You can find out more
in <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/getting-ready-pentagon-to-protect-electric-grid-from-massive-attack/article/2620280">this
article</a> or the <a href="http://www.darpa.mil/program/rapid-attack-detection-isolation-and-characterization-systems">DARPA
Web site</a>. If you’d like to find out more about the vulnerabilities of the
U.S. electric grid, you may be interested in <a href="http://keenansbookrev.blogspot.com/2016/11/lights-out-by-ted-koppel.html"><i>Lights Out</i> by Ted Koppel</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Could You Pay to Name a Missouri
Road?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A bill introduced into the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+House+of+Representatives">Missouri
House of Representatives</a>, <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB728&year=2017&code=R">HB
728</a>, would allow the state <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Highway+and+Transportation+Commission">Highways
and Transportation Commission</a> to sell naming rights to roads and bridges.
You can find more about the bill <a href="http://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/proposal-to-sell-bridge-highway-naming-rights/article_3328eb13-a599-5bb3-bb75-8e2671283903.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Hyperloop Considers Missouri<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
is one of the semifinalists for consideration for the construction of a
Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system that could go from <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Kansas+City">Kansas City</a>
to <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=St.+Louis">St.
Louis</a> in 23 minutes. The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Department+of+Transportation">Missouri
Department of Transportation</a> conceives of it as part of a reconstructed <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Interstate+70">Interstate
70</a> corridor—the segment of I-70 that crosses Missouri is considered the
first completed portion of the interstate system. You can find more about this
proposal, about which there remain many questions, <a href="http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kc-to-st-louis-in-23-minutes-a-new-possibility">here</a>
or <a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/kansas-city-to-st-louis-in-less-than-minutes-new/article_60838bea-1e17-11e7-bd60-17b127a1202d.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Missouri Bill: Move Over for
Utility Vehicles<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A bill recently passed in the Missouri House, <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB85&year=2017&code=R">HB
85</a>, that would require drivers to pull over or slow down when driving by a
utility vehicle that is flashing lights. A similar requirement exists for
emergency response vehicles such as fire and police. The bill will move on to
the Senate. You can find more <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/proposal-would-add-utility-vehicles-to-missouri-move-over-law/article_9716e892-f419-5f72-aa64-cddb62108931.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Missouri and Illinois Rivers
Could be Part of Trump Infrastructure Plan<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Though President Donald Trump’s proposed infrastructure plan is not
final, locks and dams on the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Mississippi+River">Mississippi</a>
and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Illinois+River">Illinois
River</a>s could make the list. Seven locks, five on the Upper Mississippi
River and two on the Illinois River, aid barge transportation to <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Chicago">Chicago</a> and
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Minneapolis">Minneapolis</a>.
A proposal to improve the seven locks and undertake related stream and habitat restoration
projects was taken up by <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Congress">Congress</a>
in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=2007&max-results=20&by-date=true">2007</a>,
but never received an <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/appropriations%20budget%20earmarks%20spending">appropriation</a>.
If the project is supported by the Trump administration, it is not certain that
the president would support the environmental aspect of the program, which
would likely undermine the support it has received from major environmental
groups. You can read more about this <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-river-locks-trump-infrastructure-met-20170213-story.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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[INSERT IMAGE <a href="http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/darkow_cartoons/john-darkow-on-missouri-highways/image_6280e00e-16fc-11e7-8ed0-2b5a40a1e3d4.html">http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/darkow_cartoons/john-darkow-on-missouri-highways/image_6280e00e-16fc-11e7-8ed0-2b5a40a1e3d4.html</a>]<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Trump Order Could Roll Back
Federal Regulation of Streams<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
President Trump issued an executive order that lead to rescinding the
2015 Clean Water Rule. It is not clear what rule may replace it, but some
suspect it will limit or eliminate federal regulation of intermittent streams.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The 2015 rule, promulgated under the administration of President <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Barack+Obama">Barrack
Obama</a>, clarified <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/federal">federal</a>
jurisdiction over certain waters. Opponents sued claiming that the rule
actually extended federal jurisdiction. A federal <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/courts">court</a>
ordered federal agencies to not implement while it considered the case.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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You can find more about this issue <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-rsquo-s-order-may-foul-u-s-drinking-water-supply/">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-30135104442288830612017-02-16T18:49:00.000-06:002017-02-16T18:49:27.585-06:00Energy, Transportation & Missouri News<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Buyer of TVA Nuclear Plant Plans
to Run It<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2016/11/infrastructure-news-mostly-missouri.html">previously
posted</a> that the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Tennessee+Valley+Authority">Tennessee
Valley Authority</a> (<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=TVA">TVA</a>) was
auctioning an unfinished <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/nuclear">nuclear</a>
power plant near <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Hollywood">Hollywood</a>,
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Alabama">Alabama</a>.
The buyer, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Nuclear+Development+LLC">Nuclear
Development LLC</a>, announced its intention to complete the plant and put it
into operation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Before this can be done, the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Nuclear+Regulatory+Commission">Nuclear
Regulatory Commission</a> must transfer the operating license from TVA to
Nuclear Development. In addition, Nuclear Development must complete financing
arrangements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nuclear Development bid $111 million for the plant. In addition to two
nuclear reactors and supporting facilities, the property includes 1,600 acres
of land.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Canada, Finland Plan to Phase Out
Coal</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada">Canadian</a>
officials announced plans to phase out <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=coal">coal</a>-powered
electric generation by 2030. They hope the country will be 90 percent powered
by sustainable sources by that time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Findland also proposes to phase out coal by 2030. The country plans to
be <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=carbon-neutral">carbon-neutral</a>
by 2050.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">MISSOURI</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Bill Would Make Sale of Municipal
Utilities Easier<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A bill filed in the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+General+Assembly">Missouri
General Assembly</a> (<a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB247&year=2017&code=R">HB
247</a>), would lower the threshold of voter approval needed for a municipality
to sell a utility. If passed, it would lower the requirement from a
five-seventh majority to a simple majority. The <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/CommitteeIndividual.aspx?com=01440&year=2017&code=R">Missouri
House Local Government Committee</a> has taken up the bill.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Bill Would Transfer Some Missouri
Roads from State to Counties<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two bills in the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Senate">Missouri
Senate</a> (<a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/17info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=57095326">SB
38</a> and <a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/17info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=57095445">SJR
3</a>), propose pathway for the transfer of responsibility for certain road,
letter routes, from the state to counties. About two-thirds of the current
state funds for maintaining these roads will be distributed to counties, the
remainder remaining with the state for other transportation needs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
County officials are opposed to the measure, saying it will shift much
of the state’s burden for road maintenance to even more cash-strapped counties.
These routes were maintained by counties until 1952, when the state took them
over as part of a road improvement program.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A similar proposal failed to pass in the 2016 session. SJR 3 also
includes a provision for raising fuel taxes. You can find out more about these
bills <a href="http://www.dailystarjournal.com/news/local/senate-bills-would-make-counties-responsible-for-state-lettered-routes/article_4f22c1bc-4329-58f2-bdd1-0160ea445584.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Noisy Electric Cars<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
New rules will require electric cars traveling slower than 19 miles per
hour to produce a sound. This is to prevent accidents involving pedestrians who
can’t hear the very quiet electric motors operating in these vehicles. The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=National+Transportation+Safety+Administration">National
Transportation Safety Administration</a> anticipates this measure will prevent
2,400 injuries to pedestrians annually. New electric and hybrid cars must
comply with the rule by September 2019.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-28502741458344602092016-11-14T15:59:00.000-06:002016-11-14T15:59:07.654-06:00Infrastructure News (Mostly Missouri)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Safety Valves Required on Gas Connections<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=U.S.+Department+of+Transportation">U.S.
Department of Transportation</a>, which governs gas pipeline safety through its
<a href="http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/">Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration</a>, issue <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/regulations">rules</a>
that require safety valves to be installed on all new or replacement gas
service lines for apartments and small businesses. Excess flow valves
automatically shut off the flow of gas when a line is ruptured, limiting the
amount of gas that can escape, which will prevent or reduce the severity of
fires.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Such valves have been required for new and replacement connections for
single-family residences since 2009. The rule does not require existing
connections to be retrofitted with the valve.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Tennessee Valley Authority Puts
Unfinished Nuclear Plant on the Market<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Tennessee+Valley+Authority">Tennessee
Valley Authority</a> (TVA) is offering for sale its Bellefonte Nuclear Plant.
TVA began construction of the plant, located near the northeast <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Alabama">Alabama</a>
town of Hollywood, in the 1970s, but never completed it because regional power
demand did not grow as anticipated.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
TVA has set a minimum bid of $36.4 million for the plant and 1,600
acres of land along the Tennessee River. This is fraction of the $5 billion the
authority has spent on the project. In addition to the unfinished nuclear
reactors, the property includes power transmission lines, roads, and several
buildings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
TVA cites economic development as a reason for the sale. It hopes
industry will be attracted to the developed site and provide employment in the
region.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Wind Farm to Start Operation in
Missouri<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.nexteraenergy.com/">Next Era Energy Resources</a> is
anticipating completing construction of a wind farm in rural DeKalb County,<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri"> MO</a>,
in November. The facility will have 97 turbines and be capable of generating
200 MW. <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Kansas+City+Power+%26+Light">Kansas
City Power and Light</a> will purchase the energy. <a href="http://www.newspressnow.com/news/business/new-wind-farm-on-pace-for-fall-finish/article_f876e000-357f-5e4c-88a5-18c525c00c5d.html">Find
out more in this article from the St. Joseph News-Press</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
ENGINEERING<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Engineering Educators Elect First
Black Woman President<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=American+Society+of+Engineering+Education">American
Society for Engineering Education</a> elected Bevlee Watfort as its president.
She is the first black woman to hold the office. Her term will begin in June
2017. Watford is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Virginia Tech’s College
of Engineering.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Missouri Testing Solar Sidewalk
at Rest Stop<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Department+of+Transportation">Missouri
Department of Transportation</a> (<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=MoDOT">MoDOT</a>)
announced it will install sidewalk made of solar panels at its Route 66 Welcome
Center. The sidewalk will cover a 12-foot by 20-foot area at the rest stop on
Interstate 44 near Conway, MO.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The panels will be supplied by <a href="http://www.solarroadways.com/">Solar
Roadways</a> of Sandpoint, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Idaho">ID</a>. The solar
panels and electronics are sandwiched between to ½-inch thick layers of
tempered glass. MoDOT will test the materials for durability under various
weather conditions. It will also test the suitability of the panel’s built-in
LEDs as substitutes for road striping.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
MoDOT does not expect to sell power from solar projects. It envisions
that solar roadways may generate enough power to supply rest areas. The power
generated by this project will be directed to the welcome center building.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Bill to Change Missouri Water
Commission Overcomes Veto<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+General+Assembly">Missouri
General Assembly</a> overturned a veto by Governor Jay Nixon of a bill that
could change the composition of the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Clean+Water+Commission">Missouri
Clean Water Commission</a>. The bill would change the composition of the
commission, allowing agriculture and mining interests to have a larger
representation. The commission has authority over rulemaking under the state
clean water law. You can read more about this <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/move-to-remake-missouri-s-water-commission-draws-ire-and/article_aa06ac3d-8279-5b92-b5e5-a5cfae2be724.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Oklahoma Shuts Down Waste Wells
in Light of Earthquake Threat<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The September 3rd earthquake on a newly discovered fault near Pawnee, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a>,
has prompted state and federal officials to halt injection of oil and gas
wastewater into 67 wells in the area. There is a growing scientific consensus
that wastewater injection has contributed to recent earthquakes in the
Oklahoma.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Wastewater produced from oil and gas extraction is disposed of by injecting
it deep into the ground. Reducing the amount of wastewater that can be injects
also reduces the amount of oil or gas that can be collected. The wastewater
cannot readily be disposed of by other means.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The magnitude 5.8 quake was felt in neighboring states (Facebook
friends of this contributor reported feeling it in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=St.+Louis">St. Louis</a>
and the Missouri Bootheel). The <a href="http://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geologic
Survey</a> reports that it was felt as far away as <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Nevada">Nevada</a> and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Florida">Florida</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-83085947095904982882016-07-10T13:44:00.000-05:002016-07-10T13:44:54.848-05:00Energy & Transportation News<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Missouri
Municipal Electric Utilities, Governor Support Power Line Project<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Earlier
this year, the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Public+Service+Commission">Missouri
Public Service Commission</a> (PSC) rejected a proposal for a power
line that would carry electricity generated at wind farms in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Kansas">Kansas</a> to
the grid in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Indiana">Indiana</a>. The
PSC’s decision was based, in part, on the fact that no <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
customers would use the line or the energy it carried.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Clean+Line+Energy">Clean
Line Energy</a>, which proposed the project, has been looking to overcome
this object. It has brokered a deal with the <a href="http://www.mpua.org/electric.php">Missouri Joint Municipal Electric
Utility Commission</a> (MJMEUC), which represents a pool of municipal utilities
that pool resources to by power. MJMEUC has 67 municipal utility member and 35
are expected to take part in the deal if it is approved.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
In
addition, Missouri Governor <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Jay+Nixon">Jay
Nixon</a> has expressed his support for the transmission line. In his
statement, Nixon emphasized the energy savings and jobs that would be created
the $500 million construction project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The
line must be approved by the Missouri PSC. It is likely to be opposed by
affected landowners who campaigned against the original proposal. Official in
Kansas, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Illinois">Illinois</a> and
Indiana have already approved the project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>What Are the Advantages of
Microgrids?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
This
is the second in a series of posts on <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=microgrid">microgrids</a>. See
the previous post for a description of what is a microgrid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Microgrids
have several potential benefits. These include<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
-backup
energy supply and improved reliability,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
-environmental
benefits,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
-exploitation
of local and alterative resources,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
-increased
energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption, and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
-reduced
cost.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Backup Energy Supply and
Improved Reliability<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Because
microgrids can operate independently of the larger grid, they may be able to
continue to operate when there is an outage elsewhere on the main grid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Environmental Benefits<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Microgrids
are not inherently less polluting than large grids, but they may afford
opportunities to manage energy resources in manners that may reduce pollution.
Microgrids may be more easily able to exploit variable or small renewable
sources including solar and wind energy. These smaller power supplies may also
be able to address local peaks and reduce the need to ramp up production at
larger, and potentially more polluting, power plants.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Exploit Local and Alternative
Resources<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Sometimes
local energy resources are available that are not suitable for use on a large
grid because they are not sufficiently powerful or reliable. Solar energy, an
alternative energy source that is variable and relative low power, is an
example of a resource that may be more easily exploited by a microgrid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Reduced Cost<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Microgrids
might be managed in a manner to reduce costs. For instance, when prices are
high during periods of peak demand, a microgrid might switch to a local power
supply that is less expensive. This will also reduce the peak on the larger
grid, meaning larger power plants do not have to ramp up production as much or
be built to address large peaks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
If
you’re interested in finding out more about microgrids, here are some resources
to get you started.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.energy.gov/articles/how-microgrids-work">How
microgrids work (Lantero, A., Energy.gov, June 17, 2014)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2016/04/energy-water-roundup.html">What
is a microgrid? (Infrastructure Watch, April 23, 2016)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<i>60
Years of Interstate Highways<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
President Dwight Eisenhower
signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 on June 29 of that year. Though
previous legislation had authorized interstate highways, it was under this act
and the Eisenhower administration that our interstate system began in earnest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
Interstates have proven to be a
safe way to travel (the fatality rate on interstates is less the rate on other
routes).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
Even so, the roads are showing
signs of aging. Many sections are in poor condition and many bridges are
structurally deficient.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
Keeping up with the maintenance
needs of the interstate system is an enormous task. The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/DOT">U.S.
Department of Transportation</a> estimates that the backlog if needed
improvements totals $189 billion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
Relate Posts and Articles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.equipmentworld.com/at-60-interstate-higway-system-is-showing-its-age">At 60,
U.S. Interstate Highway System is Showing Its Age (Hill, C., Equipment World,
June 28, 2016)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/96summer/p96su10.cfm">Federal-Aid
Highway Act of 1956 (Weingroff, R. F., Federal Highway Administration, June 15,
2015)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Missouri Legislature Fails to
Act on Transportation Tax<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
Though a bill passed in the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Senate">Missouri
Senate</a>, the state’s <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+General+Assembly">General
Assembly</a> did not act on a proposed fuel tax increase before closing
its session in May. You can read more about this issue <a href="http://www.newspressnow.com/opinion/editorials/article_97bd00f8-451c-5928-98a0-045b9bc28cf6.html"><span lang="EN">here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
COMPLAINTS
DEPARTMENT<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Blogger
Considers Career Change<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
That
doesn’t mean I’ll quit blogging. I’ve never made a living (or even a dime) from
blogging, and it has always taken a back seat to other things. By day, I’m an
employee of a state that pays the lowest wages of any state (<a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/politifact_missouri/fact-check-sen-curls-half-right-on-pay-for-missouri/article_cc0b7388-0d4b-11e6-ad5e-8f3ef223fe93.html">even
our legislators are starting to complain about it</a>).
Maybe I should cross the river and go back to school where <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-short-takes-on-america-s-most-normal-places-highway/article_163e87a4-1c01-5d2f-90bd-8e58bc784f6c.html">I can
learn to be a brewmaster, or possibly a vintner</a>. As I
recall, looking through the fog of a couple of decades, I did reasonably well
in my undergraduate food processing class, so maybe I can build on that.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-78137506499367785762016-04-23T14:23:00.000-05:002016-04-23T14:23:16.016-05:00Energy & Water Roundup<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Consumer Group Opposes Missouri
Energy Rate Reform Bill<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The Midwest Energy Consumer Group (MECG) has come out in opposition of <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB2689&year=2016&code=R">HB2689</a>
(and its parallel in the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Senate">Missouri
Senate</a>, <a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/16info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=26556300">SB1028</a>),
which would make significant changes to the way electric rates are regulated in
the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>.
The group claims that the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/legislation">bill</a>
would remove the voice of customers from the electric rate setting process and
pave the way for regular, uncontested rate increases. The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Office+of+Public+Counsel">Office
of Public Counsel</a>, which officially represents customers in Missouri
utility rate cases, expressed concern that the bill might limit the ability of
the agency, as well as the state’s <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Public+Service+Commission">Public
Service Commission</a>, to review rate increases.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Related Posts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2016/04/energy-transportation-water-news.html">Bill
Would Change Electric Ratemaking in Missouri</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Senate Passes Energy Bill<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Senate">U.S. Senate</a>
passed its first major energy bill in a decade. The bill emphasizes development
of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/alternative%20energy">alternative
energy</a>, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=natural+gas">natural gas</a>,
and lesser used sources such as <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=geothermal">geothermal</a>
and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=hydropower">hydropower</a>.
It also focuses on energy efficiency and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/safety">safety</a>.
The bill will need to be reconciled with the energy bill passed in the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/House%20of%20Representatives">House
of Representatives</a>, which differs significantly, particularly in its
approach to <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=fossil+fuel">fossil
fuels</a> (<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=coal">coal</a>,
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=oil">oil</a> and
natural gas). Senate leaders are confident they can work out differences with
the House and develop a compromise bill that can pass both chambers latter this
year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>What Is a Microgrid?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I’m seeing a lot about <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=microgrid">microgrids</a>
in utility publications and on the Internet. I thought it might be worthwhile
to write something that could serve as an introduction to the subject for those
who are unfamiliar with it, as well as educate myself in the process. I intend
this to be the first in a series of short posts on the subject.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Let’s start with the basics. What is a microgrid?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A microgrid is a local energy grid that can disconnect from the larger
grid and operate independently. It connects to the main grid at a location
where the voltage of the two systems can be maintained at the same level. A
switching system can manually or automatically switch the connection on or off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Though the name “microgrid” implies something small, size is not a
defining point. Microgrids are defined by<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
-local control, and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
-functioning both connected to and disconnected from the main grid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
If you’re interested in finding out more about microgrids, here are
some resources to get you started.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://building-microgrid.lbl.gov/about-microgrids">About
microgrids (Berkeley Lab)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.energy.gov/articles/how-microgrids-work">How
microgrids work (Lantero, A., Energy.gov, June 17, 2014)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>A Little Sewer History<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>The Guardian</i> posted an
article on the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Great+Stink">Great Stink</a>
of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=1858">1858</a> and
how it prompted officials in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=London">London</a> to
improve the city’s overwhelmed system of handling storm water and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/sanitation%20and%20wastewater">wastewater</a>.
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Thames">Thames</a>
of that time was a stinking mess of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/sanitation%20and%20wastewater">sewage</a>
and a hazard to health. The sewer system devised by <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Joseph+Bazalgette">Joseph
Bazalgette</a> was a marvel of the age (and much of it is still in use) that
moved wastewater discharges away from the populated areas around London.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
You can read this very good article <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/apr/04/story-cities-14-london-great-stink-river-thames-joseph-bazalgette-sewage-system?_lrsc=28cb3a60-e30e-4a8b-b041-9a2cce6a29ea&source=INTLIELV&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=elevate">here</a>.
If it whets your appetite to find out more about this project, you may also
want to read <i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2007/09/book-reviews-dreams-of-iron-and-steel.html">Dreams
of Iron and Steel<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Debora Cadbury</span></a></i>. <i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2007/10/book-review-great-stink-by-clare-clark.html">The
Great Stink<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Clare Clark</span></a></i> is a
fictional thriller set during this time that partly takes place in the changing
sewers of London.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-84203836269517823172016-04-17T15:48:00.000-05:002016-04-17T15:48:46.917-05:00Energy, Transportation & Water News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Bill Would Change Electric
Ratemaking in Missouri<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=124&year=2016">State
Rep. Rocky Miller</a>, who represents parts of Camden and Miller Counties near
Osage Beach, introduced the <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB2816&year=2016&code=R">21<sup>st</sup>
Century Grid Modernization and Security Act (HB2816)</a>. The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/legislation">bill</a>
would substantially change the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">state</a>’s
method of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/utility%20regulation">regulating
electric utility rates</a>. The method is modeled on processes in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Illinois">Illinois</a>
and would allow annual adjustments to electric rates.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Another portion of the bill substantially changes provision related to
special electric rates for aluminum smelters. This is largely driven by <a href="http://www.norandaaluminum.com/">Noranda</a>, which operates smelter in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Madrid">New Madrid</a>.
It seems unlikely that lower or more flexible electric rates will save the
company from plummeting aluminum prices. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
With the exception of Noranda, large electricity users in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
have generally come out against the proposal. Some companies that have
expressed opposition to the bill are <a href="http://www.purina.com/">Purina</a>,
<a href="http://www.bayer.com/">Bayer</a>, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Ford">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.gm.com/">General Motors</a> and <a href="file:///C:/Users/Koonan/Documents/Writing/To%20Post/IW/us.pg.com">Procter
& Gamble</a>. You can read more about this topic <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/regulators-zap-ameren-rate-hike-plan/article_6b8d2daf-3c71-507b-a3a2-392faabfc1f4.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Poop to Power Project Coming to
North Carolina<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Duke+Energy">Duke
Energy</a> has contracted with <a href="http://www.c2-energy.com/">Carbon Cycle
Energy</a> for the construction and operation of a facility to process animal
waste to produce methane gas for fuel. Waste will come from area pig and
chicken <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/agriculture%20food%20forestry">farms</a>.
The gas will be piped to Duke plants as fuel in electric power generation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=North+Carolina">North
Carolina</a> is the second largest pork producing state in the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=U.S.">U.S.</a> Duke is a
major electric power producer, particularly in the Carolinas. Carbon Cycle is
based in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Colorado">Colorado</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Barrel Bob Found<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Barrel+Bob">Barrel
Bob</a>, a character that serves as spokesman for worksite <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/safety">safety</a>
for the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Department+of+Transportation">Missouri
Department of Transportation</a> (<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=MoDOT">MoDOT</a>), was found
in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Columbia%2C+Missouri">Columbia</a>
on April 1 (no fooling) after he was stolen from his roadside station at
highway construction site in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Jefferson+City">Jefferson
City</a> on March 19. The statue, constructed from used orange and
reflective white barrels and cones, was previously set on fire by vandals at
this location.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
This statue was one of seven Barrel Bobs. Each of MoDOT’s districts has
one. Bob was scheduled to make appearances at events to promote highway
worksite safety beginning April 11, so the agency had resorted to building a
new statue before Bob was found. You can find out more <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/set-ablaze-now-stolen-barrel-bob-modot-s-safety-mascot/article_dcc8a9d6-7081-500a-9b17-e8ad0bad4f33.html">here</a>,
<a href="http://www.newstribune.com/news/2016/mar/26/modot-building-new-barrel-bob/">here</a>
and <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/barrel-bob-modot-s-stolen-safety-mascot-is-found/article_dcc8a9d6-7081-500a-9b17-e8ad0bad4f33.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Missourians Could Vote on Fuel
Tax Increase<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A bill (<a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/16info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=22246467">SB623</a>)
is making its way through the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Senate">Missouri
Senate</a> that could increase the state fuel <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">tax</a> from 17
cents per gallon to 22.9 cents per gallon. The tax, if implemented, is expected
to bring in $240 million annually. The bill would place a referendum on the
November ballot, meaning it would have to be approved directly by voters.
Before getting that far, it must complete its path through the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+General+Assembly">General
Assembly</a>. The Senate is expected to pass the bill in its final vote in the
first full week of April. Afterward it will be considered by the state <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+House+of+Representatives">House
of Representatives</a>, where it is not expected to be warmly received. You can
read more about this <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/plan-to-hike-gas-tax-by-cents-emerges-in-missouri/article_8e484b89-d78e-58d3-8086-a5572a362941.html">here</a>,
<a href="http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/motor-fuel-tax-hike-faces-final-vote-in-missouri-senate/article_56722e03-62db-5dba-87c2-4d1abe093ee0.html">here</a>
and <a href="http://www.newstribune.com/news/2016/apr/01/senate-backs-bill-raising-missouri-fuel-taxes">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Significant funding for Missouri roads comes from the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/federal">federal</a>
government (which has its own funding issues). MoDOT is preparing to use cash
reserves to match federal grants for transportation projects (more <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/modot-dips-into-cash-reserves-to-match-federal-money/article_3bc89094-d06d-575e-aa7a-30a469f35e0d.html">here</a>).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Name a Missouri Highway<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
An alternative to increased fuel taxes could be the auctioning of
naming rights for highways. There is no estimate of how much revenue it could
raise, but I’ll go out on a limb to say not enough to persuade the General
Assembly to this bill. You can read the bill <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB2382&year=2016&code=R">here</a>.
I have the impression the <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lawmaker-floats-plan-to-sell-naming-rights-for-missouri-roads/article_31928058-6500-552c-8461-7e7a2457cc96.html">St.
Louis Post-Dispatch</a> reporter who covered this story must have chuckled as
he typed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Antibiotic Resistance Found in
Bacteria Downstream of Wastewater Discharge<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Researchers studying the biofilm in a <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Spanish">Spanish</a>
river found antibiotic resistance genes. These genes occurred as far as 1 km
(0.6 mile) downstream from the of a <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/sanitation%20and%20wastewater">wastewater</a>
treatment plant. The genes provide resistance to some antibiotics commonly used
in hospitals. You can find more <a href="http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/wastewater-treatment-plant-discharges-can-promote-the-development-of-antibiotic-resistance-in-stream-654257">here</a>.
In response to the issue of pharmaceutical pollution, some chemists are
considering <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/benign-by-design-how-chemists-aim-to-end-pharmaceutical-pollution-of-the-environment/a-19170547">biodegradable
drugs</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-47169656147854550242016-03-13T14:30:00.002-05:002016-03-13T14:30:40.406-05:00Pi Day 2016 is March 14<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
March 14 is Pi Day. I listed a
few links below to help you get started on the celebration, though, of course,
a search of the Web will bring up many more links.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/05/29/a-quarter-century-of-recreational-m-2010-05-26/" title="Permanent Link to A Quarter Century of Recreational Mathematics, by Martin Gardner">A Quarter Century of Recreational
Mathematics, by Martin Gardner (Scientific American, May 29, 2012)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://datascience.nih.gov/PiDay2016">National Institutes of Health Pi
Day Events</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.piday.org/">Pi Day Web site</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.teachpi.org/">Teach Pi</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-86647047717392615422016-03-13T14:18:00.000-05:002016-03-13T14:18:23.087-05:00Infrastructure Roundup<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Missouri Highway Commission
Selects New Chair<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.modot.org/about/commission/documents/Smithbiowithpic.pdf">Gregg
Smith</a> has been <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/appointments%20and%20nominations">appointed</a>
chairman of the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Highway+and+Transportation+Commission">Missouri
Highways and Transportation Commission</a>. Smith, who owns an automobile
dealership in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Clinton%2C+MO">Clinton,
MO</a>, will chair the commission that oversees the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Department+of+Transportation">state
Department of Transportation</a>. You can find more <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/highway-commission-gets-new-leader/article_4cdd158e-14cb-50df-83c7-dc198533b283.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Superbug Found in Sewage<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/EPA">U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)</a> found carbapenem-resistant
enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in the sewage at a <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">wastewater</a>
treatment plant in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Los+Angeles%2C+CA">Los
Angeles, CA</a>. CRE is a lethal bacteria that is resistant to most
antibiotics. It was the cause of recent outbreaks in Los Angeles-area
hospitals. EPA did not test the discharge from the plant for the presence of
CRE, but researchers indicate that the bacteria is not destroyed or removed by
typical treatment and disinfection. You can find more about this issue <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-superbug-sewers-20160307-story.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-57443161279761592352016-02-21T17:14:00.000-06:002016-02-21T17:14:47.839-06:00Water News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">More than Half of World Population
Experiences Water Scarcity</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Researchers at the University of Twente (</span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/02/12/the-world-has-even-bigger-water-problems-than-we-thought/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">reported in the <i>Washington
Post</i></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">) have published a study indication that 4
billion people, more than half of the world population, experiences severe <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">water</a>
shortages at least one month out of the year. Half a billion people experience
year-round severe water shortages. <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/agriculture%20food%20forestry">Agriculture</a>
is the primary use of water. You can find a copy of the study </span><a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/2/e1500323.full"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Water-Food Nexus: Better Water Management
Could Lead to More Food Production<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is potential for existing agricultural
lands, along with current rainwater and irrigation resources, to produce more
food, potentially halving the food gap by 2050. The greatest potential is in
dry areas such as the western U.S., <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Mexico">Mexico</a>, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Australia">Australia</a>,
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=South+Africa">South
Africa</a> and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=China">China</a>.
Developing the potential of these areas depends on careful cropland water
management. You can find more </span><a href="http://phys.org/news/2016-02-halve-global-food-gap.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-90439829249235311712016-02-01T19:30:00.000-06:002016-02-01T19:30:24.512-06:00Transportation and Engineering News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Missouri Governor Proposes Funding
Increase for Amtrak<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/appropriations%20budget%20earmarks%20spending">budget</a>
proposal submitted by <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Jay+Nixon">Governor
Jay Nixon</a> included an additional $500,000 for <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Amtrak">Amtrak</a>, for
a total of $10.2 million. Amtrak claims it will need $18 million from the state
to install positive train control, as mandated by <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Congress">Congress</a>,
on the Missouri River Runner line, with a total cost of $30 million. You can
find more about this issue </span><a href="http://www.dailystarjournal.com/news/local/article_d44acf7a-beeb-5c51-848b-33ef5b7e7b39.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Missouri Legislator Suggests Punt to
Counties<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?year=2016&district=063">Missouri
State Representative Bryan Spencer</a> proposed to make <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/local">counties</a>
responsible for the upkeep of certain roads that are currently maintained by
the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">state</a>
(these are generally rural, two-lane highways). This would reduce the amount of
state-maintained roads by 19,000 miles. The roads in question have been
state-maintained since 1952, when they were shifted away from county
maintenance. To implement the proposal, the state constitution must be amended.
You can find more about this proposal </span><a href="http://www.joplinglobe.com/opinion/columns/our-view-kicking-the-can-down-missouri-s-troubled-roads/article_b1eeb4e5-3a76-567b-94ad-9c45209b5d37.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> and </span><a href="http://www.dailystarjournal.com/news/local/article_9f2d1e22-788b-5390-84c4-a0c4314a5311.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Most proposals to improve Missouri’s
road funding problem involve </span><a href="http://www.newstribune.com/news/2016/jan/10/modot-lawmakers-look-funding-options-improving-sta/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">raising the fuel tax</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WOMEN IN STEM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Women Take Lead at Engineering
Organization<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=ASCE">American Society
of Civil Engineers (ASCE)</a> has nominated two women to the ballot for its
president-elect. Robin Kemper and
Kristina Swallow are both professional engineers, and one will be ASCE’s
president-elect and eventually president. Kemper provides expertise on
construction and professional liability issues at Zurich Services Corporation.
Swallow leads a team of public works engineers in Las Vegas. ASCE’s current
president-elect, Norma Jean Mattei, will step up to the office of president,
meaning the top two offices in the organization will be held by women for the
first time in the 164 years it has existed. You can find more </span><a href="http://blogs.asce.org/in-a-first-asce-members-to-choose-from-two-women-for-2017-president-elect/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-53461106074917520462016-01-10T16:56:00.000-06:002016-01-10T16:56:28.028-06:00Infrastructure & Environment Review<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ameren
Missouri Efficiency Program Ends<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Unable to resolve
differences with state regulators, <a href="https://www.ameren.com/missouri">Ameren
Missouri</a> has let its <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=energy+efficiency">energy
efficiency</a> rebate program lapse. Staff of the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Public+Service+Commission">Missouri
Public Service Commission</a> and the state’s <a href="http://opc.mo.gov/">Office
of Public Counsel</a> believed that Ameren customer overpaid the cost of the
program, and opposed a three-year extension. A proposal from <a href="http://www.kcpl.com/">Kansas City Power & Light</a> has been
approved, and it might serve as a model for a compromise between the state and
Ameren. You can read more about this issue </span><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ameren-missouri-energy-efficiency-program-ends/article_eddbc8e7-9d3a-5189-89b2-c62de710d3c0.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bans
on Texting While Driving Introduced in Missouri<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bills that would
prohibit or greatly restrict texting while driving have been prefiled in the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+General+Assembly">Missouri
General Assembly</a> session that started January 6: </span><a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB1542&year=2016&code=R"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">HB1542</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> and </span><a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/16info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=22754434"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">SB821</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. Currently, texting while driving is
banned for drivers younger than 21 and for drivers of commercial vehicles. You
can find more about these bills </span><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lawmakers-introduce-bans-on-texting-and-driving/article_2885d77d-d60a-5615-9777-3e95a830c8fd.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bill
Would Add Missouri Highway Commissioners<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB1446&year=2016&code=R"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">HB1446</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> would increase the size of the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Highway+and+Transportation+Commission">Missouri
Highways and Transportation Commission</a> from six members to eight. Each of
the seven <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Department+of+Transportation">Transportation
Department</a> districts would be represented by a commissioner, and an eighth
commissioner would be appointed without regard to district residence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Missouri
Legislators Propose Fuel Tax Increase<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Two proposals have been
floated by <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
state legislators. One would increase the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">tax</a> on
gasoline by 1.5 cents and diesel by 3.5 cents. Another would increase all fuel
taxes by 2 cents. You can find more about these proposals </span><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article51446095.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> or </span><a href="http://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/article_560b6c09-79a9-5ae2-bb7d-6540e7749171.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As an alternative to the
fuel tax, </span><a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/16info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=22246555"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">SB645</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> would redirect 3 percent of
automobile sales tax revenues from state general revenue to the road fund.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Flooded
Wastewater Plants Release Sewage in St. Louis Area<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wastewater treatment
plants operated by the <a href="http://www.stlmsd.com/">Metropolitan Sewer
District of St. Louis</a> have released millions of gallons of sewage into
rivers. The Grand Glaize and Fenton plants were inundated by the recent floods
in Missouri. The two plants, which combined treat and average of 20 million
gallons of wastewater per day, discharge into the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Meramec+River">Meramec
River</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">White
House Announces Water Strategy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=white+house">White House</a>
announced a strategy to the sustainability of U.S. <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water%20resources">water
supplies</a> and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/drinking%20water">systems</a>.
The cynic in me suspects that these strategies, programs, and actions were
things that were mostly in the works anyway, but someone cobbled them together
into a seemingly unified program (you can can get the details </span><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/15/fact-sheet-administration-announces-public-private-innovation-strategy"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">). Even so, we need to take a serious look at our water
resources, policies and practices. Good policy that addresses today’s water
situation is needed, but sustainable water for our nation will come when we
have a culture that values water for the many roles it plays in our
environment, industry, health, recreation and almost every other aspect of
human life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-34861501277852496542015-12-13T15:05:00.000-06:002015-12-13T15:05:03.027-06:00All About Missouri This Week<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Bill Prefiled to Ban Texting and
Driving</i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
<a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/16info/members/mem21.htm">State Senator David
Pearce</a> has prefiled a bill that would prohibit the use by all drivers of
hand-held mobile phones to send, read or write text messages. Find out more <a href="http://www.dailystarjournal.com/news/local/article_5d436ea5-eb2f-541c-974c-55b5f498c555.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Gubernatorial Candidates Discuss
Tranportation Funding (Just a Little)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
So far, Missouri’s candidates for governor have provide few details
about how the state will pay to maintain roads. Missouri is 7<sup>th</sup>
among the states in the size of its <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">transportation</a>
system, but 47<sup>th</sup> in state <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/appropriations%20budget%20earmarks%20spending">funding</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Hanaway">Candidate
Catherine Hanaway</a> suggested that the $200 million annually in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">state</a>
fuel <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">tax</a>
revenues that is used to fund the <a href="http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Root/index.html">Highway Patrol</a>
could be committed to transportation. The Highway Patrol would be funded from
general revenue, though Hanaway’s plan does not provide specifics about how
other general revenue-funded programs would be cut or how general revenue would
be increased. You can find more about Hanaway’s proposal <a href="http://www.newspressnow.com/opinion/editorials/article_d403525c-bd77-50f8-805a-e51cf93a5157.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The state <a href="http://moga.mo.gov/">General Assembly</a> is also
looking at the issue. A prefiled bill (<a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB1381&year=2016&code=R">HB
1381</a>) would raise the state fuel tax from 17 cents to 19 cents per gallon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>First Woman Engineering Dean at
University of Missouri<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
My alma mater, the <a href="http://www.missouri.edu/">University of
Missouri</a> <a href="http://engineering.missouri.edu/">College of Engineering</a>,
has named its 11<sup>th</sup> dean, <a href="http://engineering.missouri.edu/person/loboae/">Elizabeth G. Loboa</a>.
She is the first woman to hold the position. Loboa has a background in
biomedical engineer. Before coming to Mizzou, she held a joint appointment at
the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State
University.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Highway Commissioner Appointed<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://governor.mo.gov/">Gov. Jay Nixon</a> appointed
Hannibal-area lawyer John Briscoe to serve on the <a href="http://www.modot.org/about/commission/index.htm">Missouri Highway and
Transportation Commission</a>. The appointment must be confirmed by the <a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/">Senate</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Springfield Buying Wind Energy<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
City Utilities of Springfield announced it will be buying energy from a
wind farm to be built north of Oklahoma City, OK. The wind farm is being built
by Duke Energy Renewables and is designed to produce 200 megawatts.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-45070475802888377162015-11-15T19:48:00.000-06:002015-11-15T19:48:33.388-06:00Energy & Water Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">ENERGY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Illinois Approves Power Line
Rejected in Missouri<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
We <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2015/10/infrastructure-environment-news.html">previously
posted</a> that the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Public+Service+Commission">Missouri
Public Service Commission</a> rejected a power line project called the Grain
Belt Express, which would connect <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=wind+energy">wind energy</a>
generation in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Kansas">Kansas</a>
to users in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Indiana">Indiana</a>.
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Illinois+Commerce+Commission">Illinois
Commerce Commission</a> has approved the project, making <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
the only holdout. <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Clean+Line+Energy">Clean
Line Energy</a>, the company behind the project, plans to continue to seek
approval either by reapplying to the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">state</a> or
seeking an overriding <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/federal">federal</a>
approval.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Texas Utility Offer Free
Nighttime Electricity<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.txu.com/">TXU</a> energy has offered customers free
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">energy</a>
at night. This unusual offer is an attempt to shift use from daytime, when
wholesale energy costs are high, to night, when prices drop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Texas">Texas</a>
may be better able to adopt a program like this. It has more wind resources
than other parts of the country, accounting for 10 percent of generation, and
wind blows more at night. In addition, the Texas grid operates largely independently
from the other grids in the country, so it cannot easily sell and deliver
excess generation to the larger wholesale market.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
You can find out more about this free electricity program <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/09/business/energy-environment/a-texas-utility-offers-a-nighttime-special-free-electricity.html?_r=1">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Cardboard Sewers Collapse in
Canada<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
In the building boom after World War II, many <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada">Canadian</a> <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/sanitation%20and%20wastewater">sewer</a>
service lines were built of a tar-impregnated cardboard. These pipes have been
failing with increasing frequency. Some Canadian cities are facing replacement
costs of hundreds of millions of dollars.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
It appears that these pipes stood up well until dishwasher became
common and the hot water began to soften them. This is an interesting
illustration of how we are putting new demands on our infrastructure that could
hardly have been imagined decades ago when it was originally built.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
You can read more about this issue <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/after-the-second-world-war-canada-thought-it-would-be-a-good-idea-to-install-cardboard-sewer-pipes">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-18776974045621536942015-11-08T16:04:00.000-06:002015-11-08T16:04:16.058-06:00Transportation & Water Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">New
Transportation Director for Missouri<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Missouri+Highways+and+Transportation+Commission">Missouri
Highway and Transportation Commission</a> has selected <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Patrick+McKenna">Patrick
McKenna</a> to serve as director of the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=MoDOT">state Department
of Transportation (MoDOT)</a>. Presently, McKenna is deputy commissioner of the
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Hampshire">New
Hampshire</a> DOT. He will start his new job on December 7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He will start his new job at an
agency facing many challenges, particularly low revenues. MoDOT has not significant improvement or
expansion projects slated for the next five years because of lack of funding.
The agency anticipates it will not even have enough money to fully maintain roads
and bridges in the state within a couple of years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">McKenna will be coming from a
different environment. New Hampshire raised its fuel <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">tax</a> in
2014. It also has toll roads; <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
has none, though McKenna has suggested it should be on the table as a way to
pay for roads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You can find out more about
McKenna and his appointment in the </span><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article43201008.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kansas City Star</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, </span><a href="http://www.newstribune.com/news/2015/nov/05/modot-tabs-new-hampshire-man-directors-job/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jefferson City News-Tribune</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, or </span><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/new-modot-chief-says-toll-roads-will-be-discussed/article_42608e62-7a3e-5d0d-9b61-6270ca7bc479.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">WATER</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">California
Communities Consider Direct Potable Reuse<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=drought">drought</a> in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=California">California</a>
has led to a discussion of direct <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/drinking%20water">potable</a>
reuse of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/sanitation%20and%20wastewater">wastewater</a>.
This “toilet-to-tap” practice involves sending treated wastewater directly to
treatment for <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/drinking%20water">drinking
water</a>. Some <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Texas">Texas</a>
communities have already adopted this practice as a response to drought. You
can find out more </span><a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/as-california-drought-drags-on-toilet-to-tap-option-gains-appeal-1.2636634#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=LinkedIn&_gsc=WroXG9U"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-87841189890951732702015-10-31T15:09:00.000-05:002015-10-31T15:09:13.598-05:00Energy & Transportation Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ENERGY</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Customers Could See Lower Winter Heating
Costs<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Low
wholesale <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=natural+gas">natural
gas</a> prices could result in lower heating bills for many this winter. In
much of the country, natural gas utilities periodically adjust rates based on
the cost of natural gas in the wholesale market. In <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>,
both <a href="http://www.missourigasenergy.com/">Missouri Gas Energy</a> and <a href="http://www.lacledegas.com/">Laclede Gas</a> have lowered rates base on
wholesale fuel prices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gas price is
a significant portion of the variable costs that are accounted for in the rate.
Rates also include a utilities fixed costs, such as the cost of pipes and other
infrastructure, that do not vary much over time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The total
cost of heating is affected by other factors. In particular, the length and
severity of cold periods affects the amount of natural gas used. Even if the
unit price of gas is lower, if more is used because there are more cold days or
colder days, the total paid for gas could go up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">USDA Grants $2.9M to Missouri for Ethanol
Distribution<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/USDA">U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)</a> <a href="http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/energy-programs/index">Biofuel
Infrastructure Partnership</a> granted $2.9 million to Missouri to increase the
availability of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=ethanol">ethanol</a>.
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">state</a>
anticipates the grant will aid retailers in the installation of 171 pumps for
fuels that contain ethanol. You can find more about this grant </span><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/million-grant-to-expand-renewable-fuel-in-missouri/article_d9a16f14-7dc4-11e5-ae8f-4bca82d0c421.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ethanol is a
type of alcohol used for fuel; for automobiles it is typically blended with
gasoline. Missouri requires most gasoline sold to contain 10 percent ethanol,
though some vehicles can run on fuel that is as much as 85 percent ethanol
(E-85).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">TRANSPORTATION</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">$10M Federal
Grant to Aid Missouri-Illinois Bridge Replacement<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/federal">federal</a>
government has committed $10 million to the construction of a bridge to replace
the Champ Clark Bridge at Louisiana, MO. The bridge links U.S. 54 in Missouri
and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Illinois">Illinois</a>.
Illinois has committed funding for its share of the cost, but Missouri is still
seeking much of the $30 million needed for its share. You can find out more
about this project </span><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/gateway-to-dc/feds-to-contribute-million-for-champ-clark-bridge-replacement/article_236f8ffc-a9bd-568a-ab6c-543bab5a04d8.html"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-21042685730943602482015-10-25T15:46:00.000-05:002015-10-25T15:46:30.837-05:00Infrastructure & Environment News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy"><b>Energy</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/alternative%20energy"><i>Alternative Energy</i></a><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/links%20and%20resources"><i> Links</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
My lack of time to write for this blog has reduced me to a compiler of
infrastructure news, though such compilation has always been part of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/">Infrastructure Watch</a>. You
can links to several <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2008/07/alternative-fuels-articles-and-links.html">alternative
energy articles here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Google">Google</a>
Pledges Investment in<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Africa"> African</a>
Renewables Project<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Google pledged to invest in the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Kenya">Kenya</a>. You
can find more about this project <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2015/10/20/google-backs-new-wind-farm-in-kenya-as-its-investment-in-clean-energy-tops-2b/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Venturebeat+%28VentureBeat%29">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Low Gas Prices No Problem for
Solar<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Low gas prices didn’t last long around here (at least they didn’t stay
less than $2 per gallon for long). Either way, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-30/seven-reasons-cheap-oil-can-t-stop-renewables-now">Tony
Randall discusses</a> why low oil prices are not a problem for the continued
growth of solar power in <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-30/seven-reasons-cheap-oil-can-t-stop-renewables-now">Bloomberg</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Renewables Generators Face
Distribution Problems<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
As the U.S. develops <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/alternative%20energy">renewable
energy</a> resources, it is facing a problem: the places where we most want to
use the energy are some distance from the places where we are best able to
generate it. <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">States</a> in
the middle of the country are becoming involved in conflicts between clean
energy proponents and landowners, sometimes turning environmental and energy
groups into uncomfortable allies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>
is one state where the issue has come to head. Earlier this year, the <a href="http://psc.mo.gov/">Public Service Commission</a> rejected a project that
would carry energy from <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=wind+farm">wind farms</a>
in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Kansas">Kansas</a>
to users in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Indiana">Indiana</a>.
The commission determined that the project was not needed, and many of the
public comments received by the commission expressed opposition to the project.
The company behind the proposal, <a href="http://www.cleanlineenergy.com/">Clean
Line Energy Partners LLC</a> of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Texas">Texas</a>, is
also proposing a line to connect <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a>
to <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Tennessee">Tennessee</a>,
which faces opposition in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Arkansas">Arkansas</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Environmental groups have been supportive of the Missouri project.
Missouri’s chapter of the <a href="https://missouri2.sierraclub.org/">Sierra
Club</a> has acknowledged that the Clean Line route avoids many environmentally
sensitive areas, and expressed hope that it will help in the move away from
coal. The Sierra Club also supported a Clean Line project in part of Arkansas
where it was opposing an oil pipeline project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Supreme+Court">Supreme
Court</a> Hears Demand Response Case<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Supreme+Court">Supreme
Court</a> has been hearing arguments in a case related to demand response.
Demand response refers to methods large <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">energy</a>
user adjust their use to reduced demand during normally high use times when
energy is expensive. Demand response reduces peak demand, evens out energy use,
and reduces cost of energy production.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Companies have created markets to trade these reductions in demand
(sometimes called negawatts) as if they were power being supplied to the
market. When major users reduce shift use or move use to off-peak times, they
reduce the need to ramp up additional generating units, and save money for
generators. The <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=FERC">Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)</a> has enshrined this in regulations that
require energy wholesalers to pay for these commitments to reduce demand the
same amount they pay for a commitment to generate electricity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The crux of the argument before the court is the regulatory authority
of FERC. FERC has authority related to wholesale energy markets, where
commitments to generate might be traded (and FERC rules say a commitment to
reduce demand should get an equal price). The utility customers who are making
the commitments to reduce demand are buying energy in the retail market, which
is regulated by states. Opponents of the
FERC rules say that it is getting into retail markets in which it has not
authority. FERC argues that it is the only agency that can effective regulate
this kind of trading, and that there is a public good in the demand reductions
and efficiencies provided by demand response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
You can find more about this case <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/20/the-electricity-innovation-so-controversial-that-its-now-before-the-supreme-court/?tid=pm_business_pop_b">here</a>,
along with a description of how it may become important to small retail
electricity users (i.e. almost all of us).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Infrastructure<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>John Oliver Thinks Infrastructure
Sexy<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Comedian John Oliver featured America’s infrastructure in a segment on
his show <i>Last Week Tonight</i>.
Obviously, Oliver’s tone is humorous and mocking, but he presents a thoughtful
essay on the issue. You can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpzvaqypav8&feature=youtu.be">see it
on YouTube</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2008/07/alternative-fuels-articles-and-links.html"><b>States</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>New Environmental Director in </i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Nebraska"><i>Nebraska</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Congratulations to Jim Macy, who was recently appointed by <a href="http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/contact/">Gov. Pete Ricketts</a> to
serve as <a href="http://www.kgwn.tv/home/headlines/Jim-Macy-Chosen-For-Nebraska-DEQ-294751611.html">director
of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality</a>. Macy has worked in the
area of environmental regulation and compliance for decades, including
leadership roles at the <a href="http://www.dnr.mo.gov/">Missouri Department of
Natural Resources</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation"><b>Transportation</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state"><i>States</i></a><i> Take Lead on Infrastructure Funding<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Washington">Washington</a>
senate leaders have proposed to raise the state gas <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">tax</a> to 11.7
cents per gallon over the next three years. The proposal would also redirect a
portion of the state’s sales tax to its transportation fund (<a href="http://www.dailyastorian.com/senate-leaders-unveil-15-billion-transportation-proposal-da-ap-webfeeds-news-northwest951d05c58ea04fdb8ca1b2be6292f690">more
here</a>).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Oregon">Oregon</a>
will experiment with a program of fees based on miles driven rather than a gas
tax beginning this summer (<a href="http://blogs.rollcall.com/the-container/how-oregons-pioneering-road-usage-fee-will-work/">more
here</a>). Many think this is a more rational way to fund highways.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
In my home state of the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>,
the governor came just short of calling for a gas tax hike as part of the <a href="https://governor.mo.gov/news/archive/gov-nixon-delivers-2015-state-state-address">state
of the state address</a>. Tax Justice Blog has a nice summary of <a href="http://www.taxjusticeblog.org/archive/2015/01/12_states_could_raise_gas_taxe.php#.VN_PovnF8Vz">proposals
in several other states</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water"><b>Water</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Baltimore"><i>Baltimore</i></a><i> Sewers Featured on Radio<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The radio program Marketplace featured the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Baltimore">Baltimore</a>,
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Maryland">MD</a>, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/sanitation%20and%20wastewater">sewer</a>
system and the issues associated with a large, aging infrastructure (<a href="http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/water-high-price-cheap/baltimore-sewers-time-bombs-buried-under-streets">listen
to or read the story here</a>). Baltimore is not unique; these problems are
plaguing cities across the nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=San+Francisco"><i>San Francisco</i></a><i> Opens New Hetch Hetchy Tunnel<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission opened the New Irvington
Tunnel. The 3.5-mile, 9-ft diameter tunnel will carry 265 million gallons a
day. It is part of the Hetch Hetchy system, which brings water from reservoirs
as far away as Yosemite National Park, 167 miles. (Read more about the project
at <a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/science/2015/03/02/a-new-stronger-tunnel-to-bring-hetch-hetchy-water-to-bay-area/">KQED</a>.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Real-Time Sensor for Bacteria in
Water<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A device has been developed in Denmark that can detect bacteria in
water. Of course, not all bacteria is harmful, so it seems the usefulness of
the tool may be limited to screening for now. However, it continuous, real-time
monitoring could be a useful screen to determine when additional testing is
should be performed or when a contamination event started. If commercial
versions of the sensor are affordable, multiple sensors could be placed in a
drinking water distribution system to continuously monitor water quality,
disinfection effectiveness, and potential contamination. You can find out more about the sensor <a href="http://www.wateronline.com/doc/new-biosensor-may-achieve-real-time-monitoring-0001?sthash.UoJzksIS.mjjo">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Water and Art<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Adres Jacque will build a temporary structure that uses plants to
purify water in the courtyard of MoMA PS1. Organisms in the structure will glow
in the dark to provide light. See this <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/3042136/this-glowing-disco-ball-could-be-your-next-clean-water-source">Fast
Company article</a> for more information.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-53388408832622400122015-03-03T14:22:00.000-06:002015-03-03T14:22:19.103-06:00Infrastructure & Environment News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">Energy</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/alternative%20energy">Alternative
Energy</a><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/links%20and%20resources">
Links</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
My lack of time to write for this blog has reduced me to a compiler of
infrastructure news, though such compilation has always been part of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/">Infrastructure Watch</a>. You
can links to several <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2008/07/alternative-fuels-articles-and-links.html">alternative
energy articles here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Low Gas Prices No Problem for
Solar<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Low gas prices didn’t last long around here (at least they didn’t stay
less than $2 per gallon for long). Either way, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-30/seven-reasons-cheap-oil-can-t-stop-renewables-now">Tony
Randall discusses</a> why low oil prices are not a problem for the continued
growth of solar power in <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-30/seven-reasons-cheap-oil-can-t-stop-renewables-now">Bloomberg</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Infrastructure<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>John Oliver Thinks Infrastructure
Sexy<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Comedian John Oliver featured America’s infrastructure in a segment on
his show <i>Last Week Tonight</i>.
Obviously, Oliver’s tone is humorous and mocking, but he presents a thoughtful
essay on the issue. You can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpzvaqypav8&feature=youtu.be">see it
on YouTube</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2008/07/alternative-fuels-articles-and-links.html">States</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>New Environmental Director in <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Nebraska">Nebraska</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Congratulations to Jim Macy, who was recently appointed by <a href="http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/contact/">Gov. Pete Ricketts</a> to
serve as <a href="http://www.kgwn.tv/home/headlines/Jim-Macy-Chosen-For-Nebraska-DEQ-294751611.html">director
of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality</a>. Macy has worked in the
area of environmental regulation and compliance for decades, including
leadership roles at the <a href="http://www.dnr.mo.gov/">Missouri Department of
Natural Resources</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">Transportation</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">States</a>
Take Lead on Infrastructure Funding<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Washington">Washington</a>
senate leaders have proposed to raise the state gas <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">tax</a> to 11.7
cents per gallon over the next three years. The proposal would also redirect a
portion of the state’s sales tax to its transportation fund (<a href="http://www.dailyastorian.com/senate-leaders-unveil-15-billion-transportation-proposal-da-ap-webfeeds-news-northwest951d05c58ea04fdb8ca1b2be6292f690">more
here</a>).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Oregon">Oregon</a>
will experiment with a program of fees based on miles driven rather than a gas
tax beginning this summer (<a href="http://blogs.rollcall.com/the-container/how-oregons-pioneering-road-usage-fee-will-work/">more
here</a>). Many think this is a more rational way to fund highways.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
In my home state of the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Missouri">Missouri</a>,
the governor came just short of calling for a gas tax hike as part of the <a href="https://governor.mo.gov/news/archive/gov-nixon-delivers-2015-state-state-address">state
of the state address</a>. Tax Justice Blog has a nice summary of <a href="http://www.taxjusticeblog.org/archive/2015/01/12_states_could_raise_gas_taxe.php#.VN_PovnF8Vz">proposals
in several other states</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">Water</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Baltimore">Baltimore</a>
Sewers Featured on Radio<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The radio program Marketplace featured the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Baltimore">Baltimore</a>,
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Maryland">MD</a>, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/sanitation%20and%20wastewater">sewer</a>
system and the issues associated with a large, aging infrastructure (<a href="http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/water-high-price-cheap/baltimore-sewers-time-bombs-buried-under-streets">listen
to or read the story here</a>). Baltimore is not unique; these problems are
plaguing cities across the nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=San+Francisco">San Francisco</a>
Opens New Hetch Hetchy Tunnel<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission opened the New Irvington
Tunnel. The 3.5-mile, 9-ft diameter tunnel will carry 265 million gallons a
day. It is part of the Hetch Hetchy system, which brings water from reservoirs
as far away as Yosemite National Park, 167 miles. (Read more about the project
at <a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/science/2015/03/02/a-new-stronger-tunnel-to-bring-hetch-hetchy-water-to-bay-area/">KQED</a>.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Water and Art<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Adres Jacque will build a temporary structure that uses plants to
purify water in the courtyard of MoMA PS1. Organisms in the structure will glow
in the dark to provide light. See this <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/3042136/this-glowing-disco-ball-could-be-your-next-clean-water-source">Fast
Company article</a> for more information.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-21093039921471995352014-12-30T11:18:00.000-06:002014-12-30T11:18:58.845-06:00Roundup of Recent News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Construction</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Roman Cement Studied<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
One could argue that the durable cement developed by the ancient <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Roman">Roman</a>s helped
them build a lasting civilization because they could build lasting structures.
Scientists have recreated the mix and studied its properties. You can find the
report in the <i><a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/12/10/1417456111.abstract">Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences</a></i> or a summary in the <i><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/16/the-secret-ingredient-behind-romes-lasting-monuments/">Washington
Post</a></i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Engineering<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Be An Engineer Web Site Features
Women Engineers<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://beanengineer.com/">BeAnEngineer.com</a> has profiles of
notable engineers, many of them women. Here are links to some of the profiles:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://blogs.asce.org/dr-patricia-d-galloway-chief-executive-officer-pegasus-global-holdings-inc/">Patricia
Galloway, first woman president of the American Society of Civil Engineers</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/alumni-friends/honor-wall/distinguished-engineering-alumni-academy-members/prof-margaret-s-petersen">Margaret
Petersen, hydraulic engineer</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://46.105.251.113/Centennial/biographies/Reece_Marilyn%20Jorgenson.pdf">Marilyn
Jorgenson Reece, highway engineer and first woman registered civil engineer in
California</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Swallow_Richards">Ellen
Swallows Richards, sanitary engineer and founder of home economics</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Engineers are Human, Too<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Check out former <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=ASCE">ASCE</a> president
Patricia Galloway’s TED talk about the profession of engineering. Engineers
care about solving real problems that help real people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
You can see Galloway’s speech <a href="http://blogs.asce.org/are-engineers-human-ted-talk-features-asce-past-president-galloway/">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Safety<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>New Reporting Requirements Take
Effect January 1<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=OSHA">OSHA</a>) has
updated it rules related to injury reporting. Though many employers will not be
affected by the rule change, it will not be required that all employers <span style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">report all work-related in-patient hospitalizations,
amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours to OSHA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Find out more </span><a href="https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping2014/"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">here</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Transportation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Investing in Transportation Good
for the Economy<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A recent study by the <a href="http://www.transportationconstructioncoalition.org/">Transportation
Construction Coalition</a> touted the benefits of investing in surface
transportation infrastructure. These benefits include more jobs, increased
incomes, and increased government revenues without tax increases.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
You can read the report <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/artba/tcc-final-report">here</a>, or find a
summary at <a href="http://fleetowner.com/fleet-management/surface-transportation-investment-touted-economic-booster"><i>Fleet Owner</i></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
60 Minutes <i>Looks at Crumbling
Infrastructure</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
60 Minutes ran a story on America’s aging and slowly failing
transportation infrastructure. You can see the story <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/falling-apart-america-neglected-infrastructure/">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Wonders in the Sky<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Slate</i> named the U.S. Aviation
Control System one of its seven wonders of the modern world. America’s airspace
is one of the busiest and one of the safest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Read more about it at <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/the_back_end/2014/10/the_new_seven_wonders_defining_the_top_technological_marvels_of_the_contemporary.html#section-5"><i>Slate</i></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Water<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>New York’s Wonderful Water<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Slate named the New York City water system one of the seven wonders of
the modern world. It is a massive engineered system for a massive undertaking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Read Daniel Glass’ appreciation of the system <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/the_back_end/2014/10/the_new_seven_wonders_defining_the_top_technological_marvels_of_the_contemporary.html#section-5">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Sewers Have Limits: Can’t Handle
Grease<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I’ve seen shelves of congealed grease on the walls of sewage pump
stations. Yes, it is gross. <a href="http://wamu.org/news/14/12/16/what_the_grease_from_your_holiday_meal_can_do_to_dcs_sewers?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=FBWAMU4566">WAMU
posted a story of the grease problem in the Washington DC sewers</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-39043966905694114642014-11-15T23:05:00.001-06:002014-11-15T23:05:15.777-06:00Transportation Funding: States Look To Their Own Resources<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Congress">Congress</a>
has not agreed on a way to address declining fuel <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/tax">tax</a>
revenues, the primary source of funding road projects and maintaining existing <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/transportation">roads</a>.
This has prompted some <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/state">states</a> to
consider their own resources to raise revenues for roads.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
*<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Michigan">Michigan</a>
is considering a proposal to double its fuel tax by 2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
*<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Jersey">New
Jersey</a> legislators are holding hearing on a fuel tax increase.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
*Some states have already increase fuel taxes: <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Indiana">Indiana</a>, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Maryland">Maryland</a>
and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=New+Hampshire">New
Hampshire</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Other posts and articles:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=1122585#.VGgoAfnF8Vx">Michigan
Senate plans vote on gas tax increase</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/nj_gas_tax_final_hearing_on_transportation_trust_fund_set_for_nov_20.html">N.J.
gas tax debate: Final hearing on Transportation Trust Fund set for Nov. 20</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/gas_tax_would_rise_300_a_year_under_bill_to_fix_roads_rails_and_bridges.html">N.J.
gas tax would rise nearly $300 a year for average driver under bill to fix
roads, rails and bridges</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/211152-state-gas-tax-increases-take-effect">States
take lead on gas tax hikes</a><o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-89194156828637973252014-04-06T16:59:00.001-05:002014-04-06T17:01:59.102-05:00Giant Sucking Sound<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
That giant sucking sound is the <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=United+States">United
States</a> <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/drinking%20water">drinking</a>,
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/agriculture%20food%20forestry">eating</a>
and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">burning</a>
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Canada">Canada</a>’s <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water">water</a>. A <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=2011">2011</a> <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/report%20-%20white%20paper">report</a>
by The Council of Canadians, <i>Leaky
Exports: A Portrait of Virtual Water Trade in Canada</i>, identifies the United
States as the primary importer of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=virtual+water">virtual
water</a> from Canada. That virtual
water is traded primarily in the forms of <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/agriculture%20food%20forestry">agricultural
goods</a>, <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=minerals">minerals</a>,
and <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/energy">energy</a>
resources.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Canada is the second highest gross exporter of virtual water (behind
the United States), and the second highest net exporter of virtual water
(behind <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Australia">Australia</a>).
Understandably, Canadian policy makers are concerned about preserving their <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search/label/water%20resources">water
resources</a>, especially when interests in their thirsty neighbor to the south
have proposed exporting Canadian water (not virtual water, actual water).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Related posts and articles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-big-thirst-by-charles.html">Book
Review: <i>The Big Thirst</i> by Charles
Fishman</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2012/11/book-review-blue-revolution-by-cynthia.html">Book
Review: <i>Blue Revolution</i> by Cynthia
Barnett</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/book-review-water-by-marq-de-villiers.html">Book
Review: <i>Water</i> by Marq de Villiers</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-water-by-steven-solomon.html">Book
Review: <i>Water</i> by Steven Solomon</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2012/07/121-virtual-water.html">Virtual
Water</a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Okay, this is a bit dated. I'm catching up on a lot of reading and I have had little time to write for this blog. I appreciate the readers who still follow Infrastructure Watch. I'm looking into ways I can make this an interesting and useful blog with the time constraints I have.</div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-29896188632569388072013-11-25T10:56:00.001-06:002013-11-25T10:56:08.719-06:00Funding Infrastructure<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Crowdfunding<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The <a href="http://www.aia.org/">American Institute of Architects</a>
released <a href="http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab097668.pdf"><i>Crowdfunding Architecture</i></a>, a report
that explored the potential of raising private funds from many people
investing, loaning, or donating small sums. Crowdfunding is a growing trend in
other areas, especially in the arts and product development.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Of course, public civil infrastructure requires a lot of money. The
investors who might be able to put substantial sums into a project will expect
a return. This is an issue for other forms of private investment in public
infrastructure, often there is no revenue generated by the infrastructure to
pay back investors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
What do you think? Does crowdfunding have the potential to be a serious
source of funding for public infrastructure?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Related posts and articles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/article/id54033/--crowdfunding-can-be-a-building-tool">Crowdfunding can be a building tool (Koroluc,
K., <i>Daily Commercial News</i>, Feb. 19,
2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b>Roads by the Mile<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/">IW</a> has previously written
about <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/in-brief.html">declining
fuel tax revenues</a>. An alternative to fuel taxes is a tax or fee based on miles
driven. <a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Oregon">Oregon</a>
is planning to implement a program based on VMT (vehicle miles traveled).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Related posts and articles<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/business/taxed-mile-instead-taxed-pump-2D11642019">Taxed
by the Mile Instead of Taxed at the Pump (Twomey, M., NBC News, Nov. 22, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-34391748588669134152013-07-28T12:16:00.000-05:002013-07-28T12:22:05.040-05:00Infrastructure Nexus News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Our infrastructure for water, energy, transportation, and food is all
interconnected. Changes to one have
consequences in the others. Below are
links to several articles that explore these interconnections.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Agriculture, Food & Water</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-02-23/news/fl-everglades-water-problem-20130223_1_everglades-restoration-board-chairman-joe-collins-water-quality">Everglades restoration clash looming over
questions of water quality (Reid, A., <i>South
Florida Sun-Sentinel</i>, Feb. 23, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/02/10/making-rain-in-the-american-southwest-how-irrigation-in-californias-central-valley-strengthens-the-monsoon-and-increases-colorado-river-streamflow/">Making Rain in the American Southwest: How
Irrigation Strengthens the Monsoon (Famiglietti, J., <i>National Geographic </i>Water Currents, Feb. 10, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2013/jul/06/water-supplies-shrinking-threat-to-food">The
real threat to our future is peak water (Brown, L., <i>Observer</i>, July 6,2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://news.wfsu.org/post/sugar-farmers-attack-everglades-water-pollution-report">Sugar Farmers Attack Everglades
Water-Pollution Report (Palombo, J., WFSU, Feb. 21, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-10/water-scarcity-seen-raising-risk-to-u-dot-k-dot-agriculture-production">Water
Scarcity Seen Raising Risk to U.K. Agriculture Production (McFerron, W.,
Bloomburg, July 10, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Packaging/Water-shortage-could-soak-food-firms">Water
Shortage Could Soak Food Firms (Spinner, J., Food Production Daily, July 10,
2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Energy & Water<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://theenergycollective.com/node/187071">Capitalizing on Where Water and Energy Meet
(Young, R. Energy Collective, Feb. 18, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://forexblog.oanda.com/20130723/coal-production-falling-in-china-due-to-water-shortage/">Coal
Production Falling in China Due to Water Shortage (Wu, M., OANDA, July 23,
2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648306.pdf">Coordinated Federal Approach Needed to Better
Manage Energy and Water Tradeoffs (Government Accountability Office (GAO),
2012)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0715/Fracking-at-the-corner-of-energy-abundance-and-water-scarcity">Fracking
at the corner of energy abundance and water scarcity (Warren, J., <i>Christian Science Monitor</i>, Energy Voice
blog, July 15, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587522.pdf">Information on the Quantity, Quality, and
Management of Water Produced during Oil and Gas Production (GAO, 2012)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/article_aef2ca86-f402-11e2-8d5a-0019bb2963f4.html">Snake River Alliance and Idaho Rivers United
Call on the Department of Energy to Address Water and Energy Security (<i>Idaho State Journal</i>, July 23, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/edfenergyexchange/2013/07/25/where-is-all-of-the-water-going-a-look-at-which-energy-resources-are-gulping-down-our-water/">Where Is All Of The Water Going? A Look At
Which Energy Resources Are Gulping Down Our Water (Zennerrer,K., <i>Forbes</i>, July 25, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Other</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/nexus-news.html">Nexus
News (Infrastructure Watch, Feb. 13, 2013)</a><u><span style="color: blue; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/100841272859759906445/posts?rel=author">Google</a>Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8138135887546911262.post-51162475824532512632013-07-28T12:12:00.000-05:002013-07-28T12:22:28.237-05:00Water: Is There Enough?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Water scarcity is a growing
issue worldwide. There is a lot of water
in the world, but issues of location, timing, quantity, quality, and use can
lead to serious problems. Here are links
to some recent articles that highlight the issue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://forexblog.oanda.com/20130723/coal-production-falling-in-china-due-to-water-shortage/">Coal
Production Falling in China Due to Water Shortage (Wu, M., OANDA, July 23,
2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><a href="http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/east_anglia_water_shortage_battle_must_be_won_for_wildlife_and_tourism_1_2282628">East
Anglia: Water shortage battle ‘must be won for wildlife and tourism’ (Grant,
J., EADT, July 17, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0715/Fracking-at-the-corner-of-energy-abundance-and-water-scarcity">Fracking
at the corner of energy abundance and water scarcity (Warren, J., <i>Christian Science Monitor</i>, Energy Voice
blog, July 15, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2013/jul/06/water-supplies-shrinking-threat-to-food">The
real threat to our future is peak water (Brown, L., <i>Observer</i>, July 6,2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-10/water-scarcity-seen-raising-risk-to-u-dot-k-dot-agriculture-production">Water
Scarcity Seen Raising Risk to U.K. Agriculture Production (McFerron, W.,
Bloomburg, July 10, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Packaging/Water-shortage-could-soak-food-firms">Water
Shortage Could Soak Food Firms (Spinner, J., Food Production Daily, July 10,
2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/clark-judge/2013/02/19/the-next-big-wars-will-be-fought-over-water">The
Coming Water Wars (Judge, C. S., <i>U.S.
News & World Report </i>blog, Feb. 19, 2013)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://infrastructurewatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/water-scarcity.html">Water Scarcity (Infrastructure Watch, Feb.
13, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.theinternational.org/articles/347-will-water-shortages-unleash-instability">Will Water Shortages Unleash Instability in
the Middle East? (Akrami, M., The International, Feb. 20, 2013)</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.fao.org/nr/water/art/2009/ppWater-scarcity.pdf?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweet&utm_campaign=faoknowledge">Water Scarcity Infographic (Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/100841272859759906445/posts?rel=author">Google</a>Infrastructure Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07479787612505811884noreply@blogger.com1