CEAC-2020-08-August

In Brief
New Mexico Finally Establishes Alternative
Fuel Corridors
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials have announced
that the Federal Highway Administration has designated the
state’s first alternative fuel corridors.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the state’s Energy,
Minerals and Natural Resources Department said the federal
agency designated New Mexico’s first alternative fuel corridors
after years of not participating in the program.
New Mexico was one of just four states not yet participating
in a program that helps federal, state and local governments
and private companies plan and build an interstate network
of alternative fuel stations
Federal designations exist for electric, hydrogen, propane,
and natural gas stations, with different criteria for each fuel.
The FHA requires that electric charging facilities be established
at 50-mile intervals along a designated corridor, for
instance, or 100-mile intervals for hydrogen.
Before New Mexico’s inclusion, the FHA said the program
had designated 135,000 miles along the national highway
system as alternative fuel corridors, touching 46 states.
Natural Gas Company to Pay State $56M for
Explosions
BOSTON (AP) — The utility blamed for a series of natural gas
explosions in Massachusetts in 2018 that killed one person,
injured almost two dozen and damaged more than 100
buildings has agreed to pay the state $56 million, state Attorney
General Maura Healey said.
The money from the deal with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
and its parent company, NiSource, will be used to
provide gas bill debt relief for about 26,000 low-income customers,
and for clean energy programs, the state announced
in July.
Also, Columbia Gas will cease doing business in the state as
of Nov. 1 and transfer its assets to another utility, Eversource.
The deal requires approval of the state Department of Public
Utilities.
Construction Halted for Aon Center
Observatory in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — Construction of an observatory atop Chicago’s
third-tallest skyscraper will not start for almost another
year due to the pandemic.
Aon Center property owner 601W Cos. and tourist attraction
operator Legends plan to begin work on the observatory in
the second quarter of 2021, further delaying the opening
date, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The $185 project is expected to open in 2023, said building
general manager Matthew Amato.
The Tribune reported in February that construction was supposed
to start this fall, with plans to open in 2022.
The project will include an exterior glass elevator tower, a
pavilion for guest entry and a two-level observatory featuring
a partial 83rd floor for entering the thrill ride, Sky
Summit, which will lift visitors over the building’s edge for 30
to 40 seconds.
Once the project is completed, Chicago will have three observatories
like New York, the only U.S. city to have that many.
Chicago also has Skydeck Chicago in Willis Tower and 360
Chicago in the former John Hancock Center.
Local Landowner, Energy Firm Propose 700-
Acre Solar Project
WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) — Local landowners are proposing
a 700-acre solar energy project in Benton, Clinton and Unity
Township in partnership with a renewable energy company.
Bessey Development Company, which owns the land, and
Longroad Energy, based in Boston, want to invest $190
million in the project that would install solar panels on tracts
that cross the three communities.
Both the Maine Public Utilities Commission and Department
of Environment must approve the plan before it moves forward.
The partnership to build the Three Corners Solar project
started in 2017, and recently bid to supply energy to Central
Maine Power, the Morning Sentinel reported.
Cables, Carbon Wraps to Support Cracked
West Seattle Bridge
SEATTLE (AP) — Construction workers recently began work
on the West Seattle Bridge, adding carbon strips and steel
cables for support after engineers discovered growing cracks
in March, transportation officials said.
The Seattle Department of Transportation recently announced
that work on the bridge is expected to last until
late October and is intended to keep it standing throughout
an orderly demolition or another long-term fix, The Seattle
Times reported.
6 | Chief Engineer