As the nation’s mix of energy sources continues to evolve, the need for distribution innovation also increases. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced awards for projects that find new ways to harness the...
Drug use in the construction industry is a concern for all contractors. According to “Occupational Patterns in Unintentional and Undetermined Drug-Involved and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths” study released by the Centers...
Pennsylvania State University and Lightsource BP are partnering to develop a 70-megawatt (MW) project, which will provide 25 percent of the university’s electricity needs for 25 years, according to a university press release...
Information technology company IBM has launched a predictive analytics tool that—combined with artificial intelligence—helps utilities better spot which trees and other vegetation within their service territory need to be...
Puerto Rico’s publicly owned electric utility Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) released a draft of its 2019 integrated resource plan (IRP), which outlines the utility’s strategy continued post-Hurricane Maria...
In the world of college athletics, having state-of-the-art facilities is crucial. At Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, local contractor Mid-City Electric Co. helped to make sure the advanced systems in the university’s...
Beyond the fight against climate change, renewable energies and energy storage are teaming up to provide stability and protection for important facilities that can’t afford to be disrupted by outages. According to “Advanced...
Building information modeling (BIM) has been gaining popularity in recent years, given its ability to provide architecture, engineering and construction professionals with insights and tools on how to more efficiently plan,...
According to a new report from the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), "Fatal Electrical Injuries of Contract Workers," the construction industry experienced a "substantial share" of contractor deaths involving electrical...
Each year, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) ranks the top 10 states for LEED, its green building rating system. This year, Illinois jumped two spots from 2017 to take first place. The 2018 top 10 includes some familiar...
In 2018, corporations “shattered records,” purchasing 13.4 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy through power purchase agreements (PPAs), more than doubling the 6.1 GW bought in 2017, according to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance...
The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history lasted over a month and cost the economy $11 billion, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Even after workers receive back pay, an estimated...
Nothing spells success like commercial adoption of a new technology. Much of the hype over electric vehicle (EV) growth has focused on consumer trends, as the Prius, Leaf Tesla and other models become a more common sight on...
A 2017 survey conducted by the National Safety Council found employee use of prescription drugs on the job had affected a majority of employers. The most significant effect was absenteeism or missed work (reported by 39...
As consumers embrace new technology, some markets run out of steam while others continue to expand. Demand for smart thermostats shows no signs of slowing down. According to a recent report by Navigant Research, worldwide...
In August 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its "electronic reporting rule," which mandated that all OSHA-covered work sites with 250 or more employees, as well as work sites with 20 or...
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in a recent news release , falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities in the construction industry. With that in mind, the agency is now making...
According to the latest report from Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), contractors are raising their construction prices as a result of tight labor market conditions and increases in the costs of many materials...
Questions about the ability of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to withstand the tremendous liability it incurred from a series of unprecedented wildfires have now been answered. The Northern California utility has announced it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Although electrical contractors (ECs) aren't yet in the majority when they use high-tech gadgets, a recent survey shows adoption rates are going up. Now is an ideal time for ECs to become familiar with what's available. Here...
