Trends September 2023

Parul Dubey on September 1, 2023 - in News, Trends

In this section, Informed Infrastructure compiles infographics from trusted sources that reveal insight on infrastructure spending. We also compile some of the top infrastructure stories that shouldn’t be missed. For ongoing news coverage, turn to Informed Infrastructure online (www.informedinfrastructure.com), our Twitter feed (@IInfrastructure) and our weekly e-newsletter.

Report Analyzes Clean-Energy Successes of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) After One Year

Companies announced 210 major new clean-energy projects in the year since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law. If completed, the projects would create at least 74,181 new jobs and bring a minimum of $86.3 billion in new private investment to 39 states, according to a new report from the national nonpartisan business group E2.

Based on publicly available information analyzed by E2 of new projects announced since Aug. 16, 2022, Southeast states and Republican congressional districts are benefiting the most from the IRA, according to “Clean Economy Works: IRA One-Year Review.” Nearly 80 major clean-energy and clean-vehicle projects—37 in South Carolina and Georgia alone—are in development or have already broken ground in the Southeast.

Electric-vehicle (EV) and battery factories led the way, with companies announcing more than 130 EV and battery projects in the last year. Foreign companies announced nearly half of all projects.

For the full analysis and more information, including details for every state, congressional district and industry sector, read the IRA one-year review analysis at e2.org/reports/clean-economy-works-2023/.

IFC and Switzerland Expand Partnership to Build Climate-Resilient Urban Infrastructure in Emerging Markets

IFC, the private-sector arm of the World Bank, signed an agreement with the government of Switzerland to begin the second phase of the Sustainable Cities program, which supports green urban infrastructure development in emerging markets.

The program helps subnational governments and private-sector partners attract investments and financing for urban infrastructure projects in a range of sectors, including transport, water, wastewater, solid waste and district energy. The program will run from 2023 to 2027 and aims to facilitate more than $500 million in commercial financing for urban infrastructure projects through non-sovereign loans, municipal bonds and public-private partnerships (PPPs). Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is providing $19 million, which complements its earlier support for the program.

The program is in line with the World Bank’s new climate-change action plan, designed to increase climate finance, strengthen climate-change adaptation and align financial flows with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

ASCE Invests in Dedicated Offices for Standards Development and Grants

Less than a year after adopting a new strategic plan (bit.ly/3skwP1B), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is well on its way to putting that vision into practice.

In July 2023, the ASCE Board of Direction established dedicated standards and grants offices. Both new offices are intended to enhance business and revenue growth significantly for the organization.

ASCE has established itself as the go-to source for industry codes and standards, most notably well-known standards from the Structural Engineering Institute. However, the Society’s current standards model doesn’t address all sectors of the industry. The new standards office, with full-time staffing, will develop a comprehensive plan for new standards, guidelines and manuals of practice.

“Civil engineers are systems thinkers, and we provide guidance on how to upgrade, optimize and modernize the entire system,” said 2023 ASCE President Maria C. Lehman. “By really focusing on upgrading existing standards, creating new ones and using the framework of performance specifications as opposed to prescriptive specifications, we unleash innovation. For ASCE, it means we will see better products and a steady revenue stream that takes our industry-leading ideas into practice.”

Euromonitor’s First-Ever Global Energy Vulnerability Index Highlights International Risk of Energy Shocks

Market research company Euromonitor International released its first-ever Global Energy Vulnerability Index as part of its “New Economic Reality: Rising Energy Pressures” report, revealing individual countries’ exposure to energy shocks.

The Global Energy Vulnerability Index 2023 is designed to help leaders and businesses assess and benchmark a country’s energy security, providing insights into potential risks, challenges and opportunities in the markets where they operate or plan to expand into in the future.

For more information, access the full report at bit.ly/47GtWYS.

TOP Stories

The following are the top stories from the last few months (in terms of traffic) on the Informed Infrastructure website. This also reflects key coverage areas that are regularly refreshed online and via our weekly e-newsletter.
Simply search key words on Informed Infrastructure online to find the full story.

Buildings

Transportation

Water

Tools and Technology

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