The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved two renewable energy and battery storage projects to advance grid reliability. The Iron Pine Solar Project and the Northern Crescent Solar Project will add more than 475 megawatts (MW) of solar energy capacity to the state’s grid, according to PUC officials. The Northern Crescent Solar Project will […]
Profiles in Power highlights public officials nationwide who are improving their communities through their dedication, enthusiasm, creativity and experience. This week’s profile is the Chief Information Officer for the California Department of Transportation and the Agency Information Officer for the State Transportation Agency. My public career highlights and education: Throughout my career in public service, […]
Oregon approved a $100 million investment in the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) project. The public-private project will establish a container terminal in the Port of Coos Bay that will directly link ocean freight to inland markets by rail. The estimated total project cost is $2.3 billion, including the planning, design and construction of a […]
Artificial intelligence (AI) advancement and innovation is taking an increasingly leading role in municipal operations across the country. The city of Louisville, Kentucky, is the latest to take the next step in AI integration by expanding its AI leadership team and pursuing new pilot programs. After expanding its IT agency’s operating budget by $2 million, […]
The California Transportation Commission has jumpstarted the Last Chance Grade Project into the design phase with a $40 million injection. With the design phase set to begin, construction on the $2.1 billion Del Norte County tunnel project is set to begin in 2030. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) recently selected the project’s preferred alternative, […]
Portland State University (PSU) is bringing Broadway to downtown with a $155 million, 1,200-seat performing arts center that seeks to transform the city’s cultural landscape. The university announced earlier this month it had secured $155 million in funding for the project, with $137.5 million coming from state bonds approved by the Oregon Legislature. The project […]
The Department of the Interior announced nearly $725 million in fiscal year 2025 funding to clean up abandoned coal mines. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), in 2021, appropriated nearly $11.3 billion for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, which is administered to states by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). Of […]