Support for InfrastructureUSA.org
has been provided by these organizations and individuals:

John Hennessy III,
P.E.

Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category

Reinventing Transportation

Friday, February 26th, 2016

Ericsson has supported Solar Team Eindhoven to win the World Solar Challenge 2015 with an in-built application based on the Ericsson Connected Traffic Cloud. The application, called Solar Navigator, brings economic driving to the next level. By collecting current weather data and traffic data, Solar Navigator gives suggestions for the optimal route, which will facilitate better decisions regarding the speed of the car during the race and the charging level of the batteries.

View this complete post...

Rewiring the Northwest’s Energy Infrastructure

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016
In rapidly growing swaths of the country, installing rooftop solar power can save customers money. In early 2016, the one-millionth American home installed solar, with another 3 million homes projected for the next five years.

THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Rewiring the Northwest’s Energy Infrastructure paints a picture of an integrated energy system in Oregon and Washington that, by 2040, is among the most sustainable and resilient in the world. At the same time, that 2040 energy system will be beneficial and affordable to the people that will pay for it: rich, middle-class, and lower-income people alike, as well as institutions, communities, and businesses big and small.

View this complete post...

Bill Gates and the Quest for Sustainable Energy

Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

“We need an energy miracle,” says Bill Gates in this interview with Atlantic editor in chief James Bennet. “That may make it seem too daunting to people, but miracles in science are happening all the time.” So, what are the solutions to climate change? Gates has pledged to invest $2 billion in new alternative energy technologies. In this discussion with Bennet, he extolls the necessity of investment in vast and varied technologies to change such a massive infrastructure quickly. Read more about Gates’s commitment to moving the world beyond fossil fuels in the November 2015 issue of The Atlantic.

View this complete post...

Philadelphia, PA: The Economic Impact of “Green City, Clean Waters”

Tuesday, February 16th, 2016
TABLE ES.1 – GREEN CITY, CLEAN WATERS’ TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE BENEFITS

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK
OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
The purpose of this report is to articulate the local economic impact of Green City, Clean Waters (GCCW), an ambitious initiative of the Philadelphia Water Department that seeks to invest in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects throughout the City of Philadelphia. GCCW fulfills federally established water quality requirements in ways that are simultaneously environmentally sustainable, positive for the local economy, and beneficial to neighborhoods throughout the City (see Table ES.1).

View this complete post...

Growing Market Demand for Renewable Power

Monday, February 15th, 2016
Chart: Projected investment to 2040 in renewable electricity generation (by technology)

THE CLIMATE GROUP
In 2014, half of all new power capacity was from renewable sources. Renewables now generate 22.8% of all global electricity use – and this is set to grow further still. Looking at economic data, changing policy, power capacity patterns and global demand, we can see that there are multiple reasons for this inevitable shift to renewable sources of power generation.

View this complete post...

Corporate Demand for Renewable Energy in Michigan

Monday, February 8th, 2016
Figure 1. Annual Large Corporate Electricity Consumption, by State

ADVANCED ENERGY ECONOMY (AEE)
Leading corporations nationwide have demonstrated their desire to purchase renewable energy. As of 2014, 43% of Fortune 500 companies and 60% of Fortune 100 companies have set climate and/or clean energy targets,1 and as of December 2015, 49 major corporations, representing a market cap of $15 trillion, have signed on to the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles (see appendix).

View this complete post...

Hood River Valley, OR: The Farmer’s Irrigation District

Friday, February 5th, 2016

The FID’s existing open ditch irrigation system wasn’t reliable, agricultural runoff was causing water quality issues, and the system was wasting water resources. To help solve the issues, the FID used CWSRF loans to pipe and pressurize the irrigation system and to install in-pipe hydroelectric generators. The enhanced system provides irrigators reliable access to water; a range of water-savings irrigation options; and reduced labor costs and conserves six billion gallons of water annually.

View this complete post...

Central Texas: Vulnerability of Infrastructure to Extreme Weather

Friday, February 5th, 2016
Table 1: Transportation Assets Evaluated

CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (CAMPO)
The specific purpose of this study was to assess the potential vulnerability of a limited selection of critical transportation assets in the CAMPO region to the effects of extreme weather and climate; to highlight lessons learned in the process, and to outline potential next steps toward enhancing the resilience of the region’s transportation infrastructure. The assets evaluated include roadways, bridges, and rail, and the climate-related stressors considered were flooding, drought, extreme heat, wildfire, and extreme cold (icing). Commensurate with the region’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) – under development at the time of writing), the year 2040 was selected as the analysis horizon.

View this complete post...

Electric Cars: What Early Adopters And First Followers Want

Thursday, February 4th, 2016
Survey Question: Charging Network

CLEAN TECHNICA
The electric car market has been growing exponentially in the past few years. But it is still a small percentage of the new car market in most places, typically representing less than 1% of new car sales. What is needed to grow electric car sales to a majority of new car sales? What types of cars and what features will dominate in such a market? When will we reach that milestone?

View this complete post...

Cleveland, OH: Clean Water & Green Infrastructure

Thursday, January 28th, 2016

In 2015, Sustainable Cleveland celebrated clean water to better connect people to their water resources to help restore, conserve and protect this valuable asset. This video is part of a larger video series that highlights different organizations, community leaders, and projects that are taking action to help clean our water. This video illustrates how NEORSD, Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga River Restoration, Holden Arboretum and Western Reserve Land Conservancy are all leading the way in green infrastructure. These examples show how green infrastructure can build community, beautify our neighborhoods, and clean our water.

View this complete post...

Follow InfraUSA on Twitter Facebook YouTube Flickr

CATEGORIES


Show us your infra! Show us your infra!

Video, stills and tales. Share images of the Infra in your community that demands attention. Post your ideas about national Infra issues. Go ahead. Show Us Your Infra!  Upload and instantly share your message.

Polls Polls

Is the administration moving fast enough on Infra issues? Are Americans prepared to pay more taxes for repairs? Should job creation be the guiding determination? Vote now!

Views

What do the experts think? This is where the nation's public policy organizations, trade associations and think tanks weigh in with analysis on Infra issues. Tell them what you think.  Ask questions.  Share a different view.

Blog

The Infra Blog offers cutting edge perspective on a broad spectrum of Infra topics. Frequent updates and provocative posts highlight hot button topics -- essential ingredients of a national Infra dialogue.


Dear Friends,

 

It is encouraging to finally see clear signs of federal action to support a comprehensive US infrastructure investment plan.

 

Now more than ever, our advocacy is needed to keep stakeholders informed and connected, and to hold politicians to their promises to finally fix our nation’s ailing infrastructure.

 

We have already engaged nearly 280,000 users, and hoping to add many more as interest continues to grow.

 

We require your support in order to rise to this occasion, to make the most of this opportunity. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to InfrastructureUSA.org.

 

Steve Anderson

Managing Director

 

SteveAnderson@InfrastructureUSA.org

917-940-7125

InfrastructureUSA: Citizen Dialogue About Civil Infrastructure