"The president's Climate Action Plan calls for making our nation's infrastructure smarter and stronger so that it can withstand new and more serious environmental threats and increasingly severe weather events," said DOE Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz in announcing the MOU. The state and agency partnership is "an important step in this direction," he added.
In July, Connecticut became the first state to launch a statewide microgrid pilot program. The initiative calls for the development of a total of nine microgrid projects to be established in the towns of Bridgeport, Fairfield, Groton, Hartford, Middletown, Storrs, Windham and Woodbridge.
"These projects will help protect residents and vital public services even when the power goes out, and in doing so allow us to provide critical services during times of emergency," Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement.
The program has secured $18 million in funding, primarily through the state's Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection. Approval from the state's bond commission is expected this fall. Malloy has recommended the state add a further $30 million to the program.
New York
Teams Shortlisted for $2.4B LaGuardia Project
Four teams have been selected to compete for a $2.4-billion project to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal Building (CBT), says a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) spokesman. PANYNJ will conduct $1.2 billion in infrastructure upgrades in addition to the project, he says.
The four teams—which include contractors, equity members and other key firms—were selected out of 16 that responded to the authority's RFQs last October. The authority lists the shortlisted teams and their lead contractors as follows:
Aerostar New York Holdings LLC, New York, which includes Fentress Architects and a joint venture of Hunt and VRH;
LaGuardia Gateway Partners, Queens, N.Y., which includes Skanska USA Building Inc., Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc., Tishman Construction Corp. of New York, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum PC and Vantage Airport Group Ltd.;
LGAlliance, New York, which includes Lend Lease (US) Construction LMB Inc., Turner Construction Co., Gensler Architecture, Design & Planning P.C., Macquarie Capital Group Ltd. and Hochtief AirPort GmbH;
LGA Central Terminal Consortium, which includes STV Inc., Ove Arup & Partners PC and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC.
A start date has not yet been set, the spokesman says. The CTB is scheduled for partial completion in 2017 and full completion in 2019. Entire project completion is slated for 2021.
New York
NTSB Continues Probe Into Bronx Derailment
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says it is continuing its investigation into the cause of the July 18 derailment of 10 cars of a 24-car CSX train in the Bronx. The accident occurred on Metro-North Railroad's (MNR) Hudson Line near Spuyten Duyvil Station.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) says it completed 1,500 ft of track reconstruction 15 days after the accident. Recovery work is estimated to cost $1 million to $2 million, says an MTA spokesman. MNR is performing the work, which includes maintenance of way and maintenance of equipment, she says.
The train, which was carrying municipal waste for contractor Waste Management, originated at the Oak Point Yard in the Bronx and was headed to a landfill in Virginia. None of the three crewmembers were harmed in the accident, NTSB says.
New York City
Study: NYC Industy Boosted by 'Meds & Eds'
