Infrastructure
‘The $42B question’: What’s next for federal broadband funding?
The Trump administration could fiddle with the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program or even claw back funds. But the ball will be in states’ courts given how quickly they have moved, and the momentum behind getting people connected.
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New Tools Help State and Local Governments Battle Ransomware, Other Big Disasters
When governments find themselves being ransomed, their choices are typically to pay, which will undercut their ability to deliver key services to their communities due to budget restrictions, or not pay, resulting in the immediate inability to serve their communities and the loss of key data that will inevitably plague them for years afterwards.
Huge gas plant eyed to power mystery $5B Louisiana data center
An electric utility is proposing a new $3.2 billion natural gas plant to run a ‘game changing’ data center in northeast Louisiana, but critics question the move.
Report: Broadband can transform a rural community
New research shows a more than 200% growth rate for businesses in rural areas with high broadband utilization rates.
Data centers, which require massive amounts of energy and few jobs, have downsides for Alaska
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has invited big tech companies, including affiliates of Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon, to build data centers in Alaska.
‘Renewable energy growth is truly a 50-state story now’: New report shows big jump in solar, wind, EVs
A coalition of environmental groups finds U.S. renewable energy development has tripled in the past decade.
Nevada says it worked out the kinks in its new voter system in time for the election, but concerns remain
After recent practice runs showed significant problems in transferring data accurately, the battleground state’s new centralized voter registration system will get its first real-world test in a major presidential election.
More states ban PFAS, or forever chemicals, in more products
In total this year, at least 16 states adopted 22 PFAS-related measures.
We know widening highways leads to more traffic. Why do we do it anyway?
More lanes, more pain—a researcher unravels the persistent myth of easier commutes.
Biden administration doles out $4.2 billion for big-ticket infrastructure projects
A new Boston rail bridge, a California high-speed rail station, electric dock equipment in Miami and a safer highway interchange in Iowa are among the 44 projects selected for funding.
Coastal cities have a hidden vulnerability to storm-surge and tidal flooding—entirely caused by humans
COMMENTARY | Dredging to deepen shipping channels has made coastlines more vulnerable to extreme storms and sea-level rise.
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The secret ingredient in Biden’s climate law? City trees.
Planting trees in cities sounds simple. Here's why the Forest Service is spending $1.5 billion on it.
Virginia goes all in on passenger rail
A new rail bridge into Washington, D.C., is viewed as crucial to expanding rail service in the state, which has seen record-setting ridership in recent years.
Nuclear power could solve US electricity needs. But at what cost?
State lawmakers are increasingly eyeing nuclear power to boost clean energy. But as Three Mile Island and a Michigan reactor aim to restart, critics question whether the cost makes sense.
The numbers are in: Trump boosted roads. Biden backs biking and walkers.
A new report by the Urban Institute shows how who sits in the White House affects what locals build with federal funds. That means changes are likely in store again after the November election.
State CIOs take on bigger role in natural disasters
A recent survey of state tech leaders found that CIOs are increasingly an integral part of state emergency operations, tasked with making sure critical systems and communications remain available.
A boy’s bicycling death haunts a Black neighborhood. 35 years later, there’s still no sidewalk.
Pedestrian deaths are highest in formerly redlined areas, neighborhoods where Black people lived because of discriminatory federal mortgage lending practices. The lack of sidewalks, damaged walkways and roads in these communities are creating a little-recognized public health crisis.
Can parking garages alleviate the housing and homelessness crisis?
COMMENTARY | There are hundreds of underutilized—sometimes empty—parking garages and lots across the country. They can be converted to much-needed housing.
For Floridians in mobile homes, Hurricane Helene was a disaster waiting to happen
Trailers and manufactured homes have long served as a lifeline for struggling families. A warming world has made them a perilous place to live.
This city is turning subway trains into power stations
Barcelona is using the regenerative braking of its subways to power trains, stations and neighborhood EV chargers. Could New York do it too?
Six airports want to charge ahead preparing for electric aircraft
All-electric passenger planes are still experimental. But regional airport managers are eager to install charging infrastructure to accommodate them.
