In a rapid-fire series, President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $773 million in funding under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act for geothermal and solar-energy projects. On May 27, Obama announced $350 million for geothermal demonstration projects, research and development, and other geothermal initiatives. He also announced $117.6 million for solar technology development and deployment. On June 1, Chu said the Energy Dept. would invest $156 million in combined heat and power, district energy systems, waste-energy recovery systems and equipment; $50 million in energy efficiency for information and communication technology; and $50 million for advanced clean-energy materials

Rocky Mountain Power Inc. has applied to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission for a permit to build a segment of PacifiCorp’s 1,900-mile, $6-billion Energy Gateway Transmission Expansion Project. On May 21, PacifiCorp’s Salt Lake City-based division applied to build 77 miles of 500-kV transmission and ancillary facilities in Clark and Lincoln counties, Nev. Portland, Ore.-based PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway, announced in 2007, is envisioned as a network that will branch to the west and southwest from Windstar substation near Casper, Wyo., with north-to-south links between the branches in Utah and a separate segment between Washington and Oregon. The Federal Energy Regulatory

A self-described “geothermal wildcatter” from Oregon intends to use a waste byproduct of oil and gas production to generate electricity along the Texas coast. Geo Texas Co., a Eugene, Ore.-based startup company led by geothermal pioneer Steve Munson, will pay Texas $386,000 a year for leases up to 30 years on 128,758 acres of state land off the coasts of Brazoria and Matagorda counties, near Galveston, to produce geothermal energy. The company will pay more if it produces energy. Munson plans to build a 20-MW, $50-million demonstration plant on land within two to three years. Research has uncovered an estimated

The Highway Trust Fund, which had to be rescued last September, is facing another big shortfall this summer and will need a new infusion of $5 billion to $7 billion by August to avoid a slowdown in spending, key senators say. Photo: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Majority Staff Senate committee leaders Boxer (above) and Inhofe (below) raise warnings about looming problems in highway fund. Photo: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Majority Staff Obama administration and U.S. Dept. of Transportation officials have said that the trust fund will not have enough cash to cover commitments to states for

The Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama’s pick to head up the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation. The Senate approved Regina McCarthy for the post on June 2 by a voice vote. The former Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection chief will be responsible for overseeing the development of regulations for powerplant emissions of sulfur, mercury and nitrogen oxide. McCarthy’s nomination was held up for weeks by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who placed a procedural “hold” on her nomination because of her support for the EPA’s recent finding that greenhouse gases could pose a threat to public health

A vital storm surge barrier for New Orleans has entered a critical and busy phase. By mid-summer, more than 100 cranes and supply barges will be positioned to work on the more than $695-million, two-mile long, Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lake Borgne Surge Barrier project being constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans. Slide Show Photo: Angelle Bergeron The first of two 500-ton cranes on the job sets the 144-ft cylinder piles, which sink 65 to 70 ft into the bottom under their own 96-ton weight before driving starts. Related Links: New Surge Barrier Project Launched

The one kind of surprise you want when you have gone to great lengths to plan the moving of an entire bridge section is when things slip and slide along even more smoothly than expected. That’s what happened last weekend in Cleveland. It is a story of planning, good luck, checked calculations and final success. Photo: Ruhlin ws removed anchor bolts from bolster between pier cap and truss. Photo: ODOT Over 500 ft of Innerbridge was moved 4 in. to open up expansion joint. Using a painstakingly coordinated cast of hydraulic rams and jacks, crews performed a memorable 4-in. westward

Despite the global recession, a panel of transportation experts meeting in Seattle agreed now is the time to invest in and improve transit systems as part of a comprehensive and holistic solution to pollution and congestion. “The American public had the infrastructure that was once the envy of the world....We let it crumble,” said Patrick Natale, executive director of the American Society of Civil Engineers. “But it’s a new day. We finally have the leadership to take action, and it’s very exciting.” Planning is as crucial as funding. Susan Zielinski, University of Michigan’s managing director of sustainable mobility and accessibility

If you’re not in the electricity business today, you may be soon. Developments in generation technologies, regulatory policies, industry standards and digital communication are blurring the distinction between customers and utilities. Renewable-energy generation, primarily solar photovoltaic panels installed on privately owned rooftops throughout the country, is serving load under the roofs, with surplus power being sold into the grid. Utilities also are leasing rooftop real estate on warehouses and big-box stores to site their own PV panels. Slide Show Photo: Southern California Edison Warehouse rooftop will generate 2 MW for Southern California Edison’s grid. Related Links: Smart Grid Will Give