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Weekly Briefing: June 24, 2024


Week of June 24, 2024


U.S. Wind Projects Continue to Face Issues as Solar Power Increases

  • Since the signing of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, solar panel instillations, as well as energy storage batteries, have seen immense growth in the United States.

  • Despite the progress in solar energy, the wind power sector sees significant challenges. The annual addition of wind capacity is decreasing due to logistical hurdles including supply chain disruptions, insufficient transmission lines, lengthy permitting processes, and local opposition to new projects.

  • Wind power is a significant contributor to cutting greenhouse gas emissions as it provides low-cost electricity that continues to generate power at night when solar power is unavailable. If wind power does not expand quickly, the U.S. will need to rely on less mature technologies, including nuclear reactors or advanced geothermal power, which are currently more expensive than wind.



 

DOT Awards $1.8 Billion to RAISE Program Infrastructure Project

  • With a funding boost from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $1.8 billion to 148 key infrastructure projects under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability (RAISE) Program. The projects draws on $1.5 billion in authorizations from the IIJA along with funds from the DOT’s regular appropriations.

  • The DOT looked to fund projects with significant local or regional impacts and align with Biden administration priorities such as safety, equity, climate, and sustainability. RAISE capital and planning grants were capped at $25 million. 57% of the grants went to roadway projects, 22% to bicycle-pedestrian projects, and the remainder to transit, maritime, rail, and aviation projects.

  • The DOT received approximately $13 billion in requests. Of these requests, RAISE restricted each state to no more than $225 million and allocated funding such that no more than 50% could go to projects in rural areas or in urban areas.




June 20, 2024


North American Rail Solutions (NARS), a Texas-based provider of railroad design, construction, maintenance, and operating services, backed by DFW Capital, has acquired Tri Innovations Consulting Ltd (Tri Innovations), a Canada-based provider of EPC services, encompassing feasibility studies, detailed design and engineering services, supply chain management, project management, construction and fabrication management, commissioning, and operations support. NARS sought this acquisition to bolster their suite of services for the railway industry in North America. As noted by Thomas Lucario, NARS’ CEO, “The addition of Tri Innovations to the North American Rail Solutions family of companies adds incredible capabilities to our portfolio. This positions North American Rail Solutions as one of the only major rail maintenance and construction providers in North America to offer a full suite of truly in-house services, from design-build to maintenance and operations.”



 

June 24, 2024


TIGRIS Aquatic Services, LLC. (TIGRIS), a New Jersey-based provider of stormwater management services with expertise in lake and pond management, backed by Plexus Capital, has acquired Aquatic Analysts, Inc, (Aquatic Analysts), a New Jersey-based full-service environmental consulting company specializing in lake, pond, and watershed management. TIGRIS has been a longstanding firm in the Eastern US and, through acquiring Aquatic Analysts, adds key expertise with additional operational and cultural synergies. David Pullins, CEO of TIGRIS, said, “[Aquatic Analysts] was one of the first players in the region and [their] leadership gave rise to numerous other companies. By joining forces with Aquatic Analysts, TIGRIS is obtaining new expertise and resources, offering more comprehensive solutions to our customers.”



 

June 24, 2024


CPL Architecture, Engineering and Projects (CPL), a New York-based full-service design firm serving public and private-sector clients, has acquired JPT Healthcare Architects, PC. (JPT), a Pennsylvania-based fully integrated architectural and engineering firm that is focused completely on the healthcare sector. With over 20 years of experience, JPT and their team of healthcare, interior design, and engineering professionals have become skilled in navigating the regulations and codes governing medical facilities. The acquisition of JPT enhances CPL’s services and expands their geographic reach and local expertise within the East Coast region. Joel Trexler, Principal at JPT, said, “Healthcare has always been our focus, and when seeking a partner, our goal was to find a firm that shares a common passion for improving the delivery of patient care with healthcare design. We both understand the intricacies of designing complex healthcare projects to exceed the expectations of our clients in this post-pandemic era.”




 

June 24, 2024


Autodesk, Inc. (Autodesk), a California-based provider of software solutions for the architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, and entertainment sectors, has acquired Datum360 Limited (Datum360), a United Kingdom-based connected data platform that manages engineering information and asset management data requirements, enabling teams to collaborate and access standardized engineering information across facilities. The acquisition adds key services to enable Autodesk’s clients to further maximize the productivity of their data without introducing increased complexity. “Datum360 and Autodesk are united by a shared mission to help our customers make their data a competitive advantage,” said Steve Wilson, Datum360 CEO. “By integrating our technologies, we’re not building a single source of truth, but a single source to go to and search for the truth.”




 

June 25, 2024


RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture (RVi), a Texas-based design firm that offers land planning, landscape architecture, and outdoor space design services, has acquired Russell + Mills Studios (Russell + Mills), a Colorado-based landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning services firm. The acquisition expands RVi’s geographic reach and supports both firms’ goals of creating thoughtful designs with an emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Chris Crawford, President of RVi, commented, “Russell + Mills brings expertise that will add to our shared vision of creating inspiring spaces while enhancing our capabilities in public work, urban planning, and design. We’re excited to work with the Russell + Mills team and expand our capabilities and geographic reach within the Rocky Mountain region.”




 

June 27, 2024


Bernhard Capital Partners (BCP), a Louisiana-based services and infrastructure-focused private equity firm, announced the establishment of a dedicated institutional program management (IPM) platform through a controlling investment in Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), a Washington, DC-based development advisory and program management firm offering multi-disciplinary advisory, project management, and construction management services for educational institutions, municipal agencies, sports venues, and non‐profits. Mark Spender, Partner at BCP said, "As the cornerstone of our institutional program management platform, we look forward to working alongside B&D's experienced and dynamic leadership team and leveraging our proprietary Blueprint framework to accelerate the platform's growth strategy through acquisitions, as well as expanded capabilities. We're confident that B&D's talented team and existing customer relationships across its business segments will serve as a strong foundation for the success of our IPM platform."




On June 23rd, AEC firms celebrated International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). The day serves as a reminder and a celebration of the work and accomplishments of women in the field of engineering. The day was originally launched in the UK by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). WES strives to support women to achieve their potential as engineers and to help promote diversity and equity in the workplace to ensure progress toward a more inclusive engineering workforce. While progress has been made, in 2023, just 16.7% of architecture and engineering occupations were held by women.

EFCG is proud to be a pioneer as a female-owned and operated company and will continue to strive to inspire the next generation of women in engineering.

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