Image Courtesy of Florida Power & Light Co. New Units Turkey Point 6 and 7, in the foreground of the rendering, would add 2200 MW of capacity by 2022 or 2023. Related Links: Pricetag for Florida Power & Light's Upgrades Rising 27 Percent Turkey Point spec sheet (FPL) With the unanimous approval of the state's Siting Board, a project to add two nuclear reactors to a South Florida powerplant has passed a major milestone. Since the project was proposed in 2006, it has survived the 2007-08 financial crisis, the flight from nukes after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, intense environmental scrutiny,

Photo Courtesy of Principle Power Latest round of DOE funds earmarked for siting, construction and installation. Related Links: U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Purveyors Gaining Ground Offshore N.J. Wind-Farm Developer Will Challenge State Rejection Clemson Facility to Drive New Grid, Wind-Energy Research Three offshore wind-energy producers have received the nod from the U.S. Dept. of Energy to construct demonstration projects off both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The projects, which will receive up to $47 million each in DOE funds, were among seven projects selected in December 2012 to receive $4 million each to demonstrate design, engineering and permitting for their

The general contractor of a partially complete, abandoned high-rise building in Jacksonville, Fla., is seeking a buyer for the property it recently acquired by foreclosure. When the developer defaulted on a $12.4-million civil award due the contractor for nonpayment and breach of contract, the court cleared the way for Choate Construction Co. to seize the project. Photo courtesy Choate Construction Co. The Berkman Plaza II project in Jacksonville, Fla., has been stalled since December 2007. Image courtesy Choate Construction A digital rendering of the Berkman Plaza II project. Related Links: Contractor: Panel Rejects Claims of Collapse Liability Dynamic Deeds Build

Photo courtesy of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Dept. The Florida real estate market collapsed after the 2007 accident, which added to the developer's challenges with the project. Related Links: Jax Collapse Triggers Major Rescue Effort Contractor: Panel Rejects Claims of Collapse Liability One of the largest general contractors in the southeastern U.S. is seeking a buyer for a partially completed high-rise building it acquired by foreclosure when the developer defaulted on a $12.4-million civil award for nonpayment and breach of contract. Construction on the building in Jacksonville, Fla., was halted in December 2007, after an attached six-level parking garage partially

Photo Courtesy of Sunpower Touted as the world's largest solar PV project currently under permit, Solar Star's Rosamand, Calif., 579-MW installation is a beehive of activity, with crews putting in place 5 MW each workday. Photo Courtesy of Sunpower Pre-fabricated design of solar modules facilitates rapid installation as crews become adept of repeating the process. Related Links: The U.S. Energy Policy Finally Emerges California Plant To Double U.S. Solar Thermal Power Production Rooftop Solar Set To Soar When the $2.2-billion, 377-MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California's Mojave Desert commenced commercial operation in December 2013, the facility became the

Related Links: The U.S. Energy Policy Finally Emerges California Plant To Double U.S. Solar Thermal Power Production Solar Sees Growth But Clouds Loom In December, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. placed the world's largest-ever order for onshore wind turbines, estimated at $1 billion for 448 units totaling 1,050 MW, to be installed on five Iowa wind farms. Despite its size, the large capacity is not unusual for Iowa, which already boasts 5,571 MW of installed wind capacity, generating 27.4% of its electricity mix.Amid growth in wind-generation nationwide, Iowa's is the highest proportion for any state. According to the Energy Information Administration,

Related Links: California Utility to Close Troubled San Onofre Nuclear Plant Safeguards Failed in Massive Power Outage in Western U.S., Mexico To replace 2150 megawatts of generation lost by the retirement of a nuclear powerplant, the California Public Utilities Commission has directed two utility companies to procure up to 1,500 MW of new resources. At least 600 MW must be from energy storage and “preferred resources,” which the state defines as renewable power, demand response sources and energy efficiency.Southern California Edison Co. (SCE), Rosemead, must procure 500-700 MW and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (SDG&E) 500-800 MW by 2022

Related Links: Clean Water Declaration List of organizations supporting clean water declaration Outraged by rising water pollution in their state, Florida environmental groups are pushing to make protection of the state’s water resources a priority in the 2014 legislative session, which begins on March 4.In the past year alone, record numbers of dolphins, manatees and pelicans have died in the Indian River Lagoon. Investigations placed the blame on pollution from a 146% artificial expansion of the lagoon’s watershed and rapid coastal development.In the same period, heavy rains have increased the water level in Lake Okeechobee, forcing the U.S. Army Corps

Photo Courtesy of Xcel Energy PUC's new cost guidelines could make coal-fired power less viable. Related Links: Quebc and California Link Credit Trading for Greenhouse-Gas Emissions EPA Proposes to Cut Carbon Emissions at New Powerplants EPA: the FederaL Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) A late-December regulatory decision will increase the weight Minnesota utilities give in their integrated resource planning to the social and environmental costs of carbon-dioxide emissions, reducing the competitive advantage enjoyed by fossil-fueled powerplants over renewable-energy power generation.The decision's immediate impact will be felt only in Minnesota, but it comes at a time of growing national concern over

Data courtesy of IIR Industrial spending will rise significantly in Ohio by 2017. Related Links: Shale-gas Project Boom Drives Solutions to Shortfalls Seen in Craft, Tech and Management Jobs Even as a Gulf Coast construction boom takes shape, one market observer foresees a regional shortage of skilled craft labor in the Great Lakes region and the Midwest when, in the next few years, several big industrial projects ramp up simultaneously.By 2016, labor demand in the region will rise to 26.8 million worker hours, from 21.9 million worker hours in 2013, says a report from Industrial Info Resources (IIR), a Sugar