Trends May 2024

Parul Dubey on May 2, 2024 - 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.

EPA Issues National Drinking-Water Standard for PFAS Pollution

On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking-water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children. This final rule represents the most-significant step to protect public health under “EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap” (bit.ly/4aB8eXn). The final rule is expected to reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.

EPA estimates that between 6 to 10 percent of the 66,000 public drinking-water systems may need to take action to reduce PFAS to meet these new standards. All public water systems have three years to complete initial monitoring for these chemicals, and they must inform the public of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water. Where PFAS is found at levels that exceed these standards, systems must implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water within five years. The new limits in this rule are achievable using a range of available technologies and approaches, including granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis and ion-exchange systems.

In addition to the PFAS rule, EPA announced nearly $1 billion in newly available funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems as well as help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination.

Applications Open for $5 Billion in Funding for U.S. Infrastructure Projects

On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation opened applications for approximately $5.1 billion in funding for projects of regional or national significance for three major discretionary grant programs. The application process has been streamlined into the single Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program opportunity. Available funding includes:

• $1.7 billion for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program, which invests in large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility or safety benefits.

• $2.7 billion for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, which awards competitive grants to multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, accessibility, efficiency and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.

• $780 million for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) program, which is dedicated specifically to projects in rural areas.

The deadline for applications is May 6, 2024. Applicants may find the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), frequently asked questions and other resources at bit.ly/3U4r4iv.

U.S. Power Demand Will Rise to 4.112 Trillion kWh in 2024

Power demand in the United States will rise to 4.112 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2024 and 4.123 trillion kWh in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. To meet future electricity demands, the United States has embraced a broad portfolio of energy solutions. Projections for U.S. electricity demand growth over the next five years have doubled from a year ago, driven by new artificial-intelligence data centers, chip-manufacturing plants and electric-vehicle transition.

Autodesk Report Finds Growing Confidence in Resilience, Optimism Toward AI

More than 5,000 industry leaders say they are far more confident about their companies’ resilience than in 2023 and have a surprisingly high level of trust in artificial intelligence (AI), according to the “2024 State of Design & Make” report released by Autodesk in April 2024.

According to the report, “Design & Make” industries—including architecture, engineering and construction; design and manufacturing; and media and entertainment—employ nearly 300 million people worldwide and by 2027 will represent $30 trillion in value globally. Autodesk’s second annual report reveals the issues and sentiments these industries are facing, with the goal of helping leaders chart a path to the future.

Key takeaways and the full report can be accessed at bit.ly/442YItG.

Labor Shortages Impacting Construction Growth Potential for Mission-Critical Sectors

Global construction consultant Linesight released its “Construction Market Insights” report for the Americas, showing that demand for construction workers has surged, leading to rising labor costs and increased project delays.

The construction industry has shown resilience with robust growth in the data center and high-tech industrial sectors, offsetting the decline in the commercial and residential sectors. While commodity prices have eased, several challenges persist such as higher finance costs from elevated interest rates as well as challenging supply chain timelines for MEP equipment and labor shortages.

The widening gap between labor supply and demand is increasing costs. In January 2024, average hourly earnings in the construction sector surged by 5.18 percent. Many projects also are affected by inadequate workforce availability, leading to cost overruns, project delays and compromised work quality.

Read the full report at bit.ly/3Um9Gra.

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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