Infrastructure

"Water firms “passed” thousands of pollution tests under a self-monitoring regime … yet the tests were never even conducted, the Observer can reveal. The water firms’ own operational data for sewage plants across the country reveals how outflows of effluent had stopped – in some cases for just a few hours – on days that samples were supposed to be taken."

"Faced with worsening climate-driven disasters and an electricity grid increasingly supplied by intermittent renewables, the US is rapidly installing huge batteries that are already starting to help prevent power blackouts."

"The once-mighty river is barely a trickle through much of West Texas. Scientists and advocates say local initiatives could be scaled up to restore flows to the river."

"The Environmental Protection Agency is at risk of misallocating nearly $1 billion in lead pipe replacement funding to the wrong states because it didn’t verify inaccurate data provided by Texas and Florida, an agency watchdog announced."

"There’s little detail available on the $7B federal program to jump-start U.S. clean hydrogen, leaving environmental advocates concerned the projects may be off track."

"Colorado lawmakers are pressing the Biden administration to offer payments to Native American tribes that are unable to use their full share of the Colorado River, arguing the groups should be compensated for reducing pressure on the drought-stricken waterway."

"Advocates say vulnerable communities can’t afford to wait 20 years for service line replacement and that more outreach is required."

"By learning the secrets of 2,000-year-old cement, researchers are trying to devise greener, more durable modern options."

"One of the largest solar projects in the U.S. opened in Texas on Friday, backed by what Google said is the largest solar electricity purchase it has ever made."