Electric
Maine utility oversight bill advances after differences resolved
The Maine Legislature voted in favor of a bill to increase oversight of the state's two major electric utilities on Wednesday, a day after a disagreement in the House put the proposal into limbo.
Lawmakers make efforts to protect critical infrastructure in water, utilities sectors
Lawmakers are taking steps to prevent a repeat of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, by designing legislation to protect critical infrastructure in the water, utilities and pipeline sectors.
Thousands Without Heat, Water After Tornadoes Kill Dozens
Many Kentucky residents are without power and water after a powerful tornado blew through the state.
DEP Hears Testimony on Permit Suspension of Power Corridor
A permit for a $1 billion electricity transmission project is facing its final public hearing before a referendum vote.
Mainers Have Their Say on $1B Electric Transmission Line
Voters in Maine are weighing in on a 145-mile conduit for Canadian hydropower.
Details of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan Affecting the Underground Construction Industry
The numbers are out for the bipartisan infrastructure plan that will allocate money to help improve the country's infrastructure.
United Utility Services Acquires B&B Electrical & Utility Contractors
United Utility Services has acquired B&B Electrical & Utility Contractors creating new growth opportunities for both companies.
North Carolina Utilities Told to Stop Disconnections Through August
Regulators in North Carolina have instructed the state's large, for-profit utility companies to continue delaying disconnections through the month of August.
PG&E Commits to Underground Power Lines as Part of Wildfire Rebuild
PG&E announced today that it will put all electric distribution power lines underground in the Town of Paradise and some of the surrounding areas as the town rebuilds from the Camp Fire.
American Augers/Trencor Launch New Website
American Augers/Trencor, a Charles Machine Works company and leading manufacturer of horizontal directional drills, auger boring machines and large-scale trenchers and surface miners, launched a newly designed website. Bringing together the two brands with the message – “Two Brands. One Commitment” ..
WSSC Awards Contract to Transform Sewage into Renewable Energy
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) has approved the first phase of a $250 million project that will turn poop to power by transforming sewage into renewable energy. The $44 million contract awarded to PC Construction Company will allow WSSC to begin design and early construction of ..
Del Puerto Water District Wins ACWA's 2018 Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has awarded the 2018 Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence to the Del Puerto Water District for its North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program. The program is an innovative solution to water supply and reliability issues in the San Joa..
Vermont Town to Vote on Sewer, Water Revitalization Project
WINOOSKI, Vt. (AP) – Residents in Winooski will soon decide whether the city will combine upgrades to its water and sewer systems with a revitalization project. The Burlington Free Press reports a vote on the overhaul is scheduled for Tuesday. The Main Street Revitalization Project includes buryin..
Urban Water Scarcity Challenge Opens to Startups
Imagine H2O has opened its 2018 Urban Water Scarcity Challenge to water startups advancing resilient drinking water solutions in fast-growing cities globally. The challenge aligns with U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6), which calls for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water ..
Crews Finish Sealing Damaged Great Lakes Electric Cables
MACKINAW CITY, Mich. (AP) — Officials say crews have finished capping and sealing two electric cables that were severed by a suspected boat anchor strike in the waterway that connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. A team of investigators led by the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday the cables owned by A..
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Celebrates 100 Years of Service
In celebration of its 100th year of service, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is hosting a regional symposium, A Century of Innovation, tomorrow, May 1, at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. The symposium brings together wa..
CUIRE Study Finds CIPP Reports Non-Conclusive
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington’s Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education and the Institute for Underground Infrastructure in Germany have completed a four-month study on the review of published literature pertaining to chemical emissions of styrene-based res..
Study: Californians Support Using Recycled Water
Xylem Inc. has released the results of a study indicating nearly three-quarters of Californians support using recycled water as an additional local water supply, regardless of water shortages. According to the study, although 2017 brought significant rainfall, Californians also remain very concerned..
South Dakota Mines' Gas Cube Project Holds Big Potential
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Humans create tons of waste. They demand a lot of energy too. That, in essence, is what makes a South Dakota School of Mines & Technology project to convert waste products like cardboard, discarded food and agricultural refuse into methane gas for energy generation so excit..
Utility Says Retired Underwater Electric Cables May be Damaged
MACKINAW CITY, Mich. (AP) — A suspected anchor strike that severed two electric cables in the waterway linking Lakes Huron and Michigan may have damaged additional cables in the area that were taken out of service long ago but never removed from the water, officials said Thursday. A remotely operat..
Vortex Companies Introduces New Manhole Rehab Coating
The Vortex Companies has introduced Chimney Guard, a custom-formulated coating consisting of 100% solids epoxies and urethane designed to improve manhole rehabilitation where inflow and infiltration is a frequent problem. Because it requires no primer coat, Chimney Guard is easy to use for any prof..
Colorado Utility Provider Exits Transmission Partnership
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado utility has announced it is leaving an informal transmission partnership between electricity service providers. Xcel Energy’s Executive Vice President David Eves said in a statement issued Friday that the being a part of the Mountain West Transmission Group was no longer in..
SPX to Acquire CUES
SPX Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase CUES, Inc., a leading manufacturer of pipeline inspection and rehabilitation equipment headquartered in Orlando, Fla. Under the terms of the agreement, a subsidiary of SPX will be merged with CUES’ parent company, ELXSI Corporation..
CenterPoint, Vectren to Merge
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Vectren Corporation have entered into a definitive merger agreement to form a leading energy delivery, infrastructure, and services company serving more than 7 million customers across the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unani..
Professor Tries to Clean PFCs from Minnesota Water
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Simcik has invented a sponge that might be able to clean up one of Minnesota’s worst water-pollution problems, the PFCs in Washington County groundwater. His technique involves putting absorbent material underground. “This stuff is sticky. It sticks to the soil, and the..
New York Sending More Utility Workers to Puerto Rico Power Restoration Efforts
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s governor is heading back to Puerto Rico with more help as the island continues to recover from last year’s catastrophic hurricane. Democrat Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the state is sending another team of utility experts to assist with repairs to Puerto Rico’..
Excavator Causes Puerto Rico Power Outage
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — An island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday after an excavator accidentally downed a transmission line, officials said, as the U.S. territory struggles to repair an increasingly unstable power grid nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria. Officials said it co..
Ditch Witch, Vacuworx Form Vacuum Lifting Technology Partnership
Ditch Witch has partnered with Vacuworx to bring the benefits of vacuum lifting technology to an expanded network of underground construction contractors, landscapers, municipalities and utilities. Vacuum lifting systems are designed to use constant vacuum pressure to handle heavy loads, such as st..
West Virginia American Water Launches 2018 Infrastructure Upgrade Map
West Virginia American Water has launched its 2018 Infrastructure Upgrade Map, an online application enabling customers to view details about water main replacement projects and other water distribution system upgrades throughout the company’s service area. “We owe it to our customers to demonstrat..
New York to Award $15 Million for Electric Grid Modernization Projects
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that up to $15 million is available for projects that will help the state improve the resiliency, efficiency, and overall performance of its electric grid to save on energy and costs to combat climate change. Modernizing the grid supports Gov. Cuomo’..
- Tunnel boring machine ‘Clack-A-Mole’ nears one-third completion in Oregon outfall project
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Texas A&M weighs underground transit plan with Elon Musk's Boring Co. to reduce campus traffic
- Wyo-Ben’s Max Gel, Max Bore HDD system boost drilling efficiency, performance
- Colorado's Wolf Creek Pass tunnel drainage project begins
- Wisconsin proposes new PFAS drinking water standards to align with federal rules
- Elgin, Ill., joins EPA drinking water initiative to accelerate lead pipe replacement
- Dog River pipeline replacement in Oregon improves water supply with new HDPE pipe
- Leaking wastewater systems named top source of San Diego River contamination, study finds
- New Portable Welding System From Miller