ProCon Recruitment

Honolulu is set for a major $174 million upgrade to Hawaii’s largest wastewater treatment plant. The project, aiming to enhance capacity and efficiency, will focus on the in-vessel bioconversion facilities at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The design-build contractor Synagro-WWT, headquartered in Baltimore, will spearhead the execution, while construction will be managed by Hensel Phelps from Greeley, Colorado. Honolulu’s Yogi Kwong Engineers will play a crucial role as the construction manager for this significant initiative. In May, concerns were raised as the Sand Island Plant's treated water exceeded allowable bacteria levels, leading to warnings for the public to avoid the ocean. Aging and ill-maintained wastewater treatment plants across Hawaii prompted a recent EPA crackdown as reported by Honolulu Civil Beat. The project focuses on enhancing the Sand Island Plant's bioconversion capabilities to meet current and future wastewater treatment demands effectively. This includes installing new anaerobic digesters, sludge storage tanks, a digester control building, and a new tunnel and basement. Upgrades also involve various infrastructure improvements, such as relocating the effluent water reuse pump station, providing power to maintenance and lab buildings, and constructing new underground utilities. Additional enhancements comprise a new boiler system, hot water pumps, modifications to existing digesters and piping, and the installation of flares, a propane gas tank, and new chemical dosing systems. The agency emphasized that these upgrades are crucial investments in Honolulu's wastewater infrastructure, enabling the plant to manage increased waste volumes and contribute to a cleaner environment for residents. Scheduled for completion by October 2028, this project underscores the commitment to improve Honolulu's wastewater treatment capabilities. #Construction #Honolulu #WastewaterTreatment #InfrastructureUpgrade

Renewables account for 99% of new electricity connected to U.S. grid in 2024 According to the latest data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), renewables have provided nearly all – 99.2% – new U.S. generating capacity since the beginning of 2024 through April. The SUN DAY Campaign reviewed the data and found that in the first four months of 2024, solar and wind added 7,899 MW and 1,825 MW, respectively, while biomass added 3 MW and hydropower added 1 MW. The balance consisted of 67 MW of gas, 5 MW of oil and 3 MW of “other.” Specifically for the month of April, 1,324 MW of solar were placed into service along with 737 MW of wind. The balance for April was provided by gas at just 16 MW. The new solar capacity added from January through April this year was more than double the solar capacity (3,777 MW) added during the same period last year. Year-to-date, solar accounted for 80.6% of all new generation placed into service. #solarenergy #renewables #USrenewables #USsolar #solarpower

Construction has commenced on a new $4.3 billion hospital project at the University of California, San Francisco. UCSF has committed to significant developments with a focus on local hiring and job creation. The project aims to achieve a 30% local hiring goal for construction workers and plans to generate 1,000 union jobs alongside new job training programs. The upcoming renovations at Moffitt and Long Hospitals include exciting features such as a new 15-story exterior stair, seismic upgrades, and advanced technologies in diagnostics, robotics, and surgical procedures. The facility is designed to enhance complex specialty care in neurosurgery, cardiology, transplant, and emergency medicine. Moreover, the expansion will boost UCSF Health's capacity by 37% to 682 beds, with additions like 22 new operating rooms and 31 emergency care beds. The university is also investing $20 million in public transit improvements, including enhancements to the N Judah line. Anticipated to open in 2030, this project signifies a remarkable milestone in healthcare infrastructure, ensuring cutting-edge facilities and enhanced patient care. #UCSF #HealthcareInnovation #JobCreation #CommunityDevelopment #Construction #Healthcare #SanFrancisco #Hospital

REC Group has launched a new solar panel for the non-residential market in the United States. The new Alpha Pro M Series uses heterojunction technology (HJT) to reach 640 W with 22.5% efficiency. This latest release is the sixth innovation in the Alpha line of solar panels. Production is set to commence this August at REC’s manufacturing facility in Singapore. #solar #solarnews #renewablenergy

“The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.” — Calvin Coolidge #MemorialDay

Meta inks deal with Pine Gate for new 204-MW solar project Pine Gate Renewables and Meta announced the execution of an agreement for the renewable attributes from a Pine Gate solar project located in Temple, Texas. The 204-MW Limewood Bell Solar Project in Bell County is expected to be operational in 2026 and is located just seven miles away from Meta’s Temple Data Center. The project is important to Meta’s continued commitment to net zero emissions and 100% renewable energy for its global operations. Pine Gate prioritizes flexibility, proactive communication and transparent development in its partnerships to help large energy customers realize their sustainability goals. This new agreement doubles down on an existing partnership between Pine Gate and Meta and is the first between the two entities for renewable attributes from a solar project in Texas. #construction #solarpower #solarenergy #usa #renewablenergy #renewables

Flatiron-Herzog JV has been selected to construct San Antonio’s Green Line, a $446.3 million North-South Corridor Advanced Rapid Transit project. This 12-mile bus line is a crucial part of VIA’s Keep San Antonio Moving program, offering riders speed and frequency similar to light rail. The project will connect the city from north to south, linking the San Antonio International Airport to downtown and other key areas. The innovative project includes building 26 new bus stations and dedicated bus lanes, aiming to enhance connectivity and accessibility for residents. With environmental approval received and funded by federal and local taxpayers, this transformative initiative is set to streamline travel, connecting communities and major employment centers. Bus rapid transit systems, like the Green Line, are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. due to their eco-friendly nature, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. This project marks a significant milestone for Flatiron, showcasing their commitment to sustainable transportation solutions. San Antonio's first bus rapid transit project promises to revolutionize the city's transportation landscape, offering efficient routes and improved access to essential services. #GreenLine #Construction #GreenConstruction

Micron Projects in New York and Idaho Set for $6.1B in Federal Funding The U.S. Dept. of Commerce has offered Micron Technology Inc. $6.1 billion in direct funding from a CHIPS and Science Act program to support construction of three semiconductor fabrication plants, or fabs, officials announced April 25. One of the plants is already under construction. Micron is expanding its research and development facility in Boise, Idaho, with construction of a neighboring high-volume manufacturing fab. It also plans to put some of the federal funding toward construction of the first two fabs at a site in Clay, N.Y. Each of the three fabs would have 600,000 sq ft of clean room space The projects are expected to involve 4,500 construction jobs each in New York and Idaho. The work is subject to project labor agreements. Micron says construction of the Boise fab started in October and the plant is scheduled to begin operating next year. Exyte is construction manager for that project. The New York fabs are still in design and permitting, according to the company. It aims to begin construction on the first fab there next year to start production in 2028. #newyork #construction #institutionalconstruction #newyorkconstruction

Enbridge has selected the contractors who are set to build a 4-mile tunnel to house a new segment of the Line 5 oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. The joint venture, Mackinac Straits Partners, comprised of Barnard and Civil & Building North America, has been chosen for the project. The tunnel will replace dual oil pipelines running underwater between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. The cost of the contract has not been disclosed yet, with the overall project initially estimated at $500 million, expected to rise due to inflation and delays. The 645-mile Line 5 pipeline is part of Enbridge's Lakehead System, stretching from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Canada. Federal approval is required for the Michigan tunnel project to proceed, involving building in U.S. navigable waters. Following a 2010 accident resulting in a significant oil spill, the Line 5 project aims to address potential ecological and economic risks associated with the pipeline. Despite permits from Michigan, final approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are pending, with a decision expected by early 2026. Enbridge and environmental activists have expressed frustration over the ongoing delays in commencing construction. #Construction #Pipeline5 #ConstructionJobs #Enbridge

D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) announced the 80-MWAC Elektron Solar Project has reached commercial operation. The project in Tooele County, Utah, began construction in 2021 and was acquired from Enyo Renewable Energy in 2020. “We are thrilled to have completed construction on the Elektron Solar facility,” said Hy Martin, Chief Development Officer of DESRI. “While the solar industry has encountered headwinds in the past few years due to supply chain constraints and rising interest rates, this project was able to succeed due to the strong partnership from our customers and local stakeholders. Our team appreciates the ongoing support from the customers, Rocky Mountain Power and Tooele County.” Elektron Solar has 20- and 25-year power purchase agreements with PacifiCorp under Rocky Mountain Power’s Schedule 34 for renewable energy purchases to serve demand from a consortium of Utah customers including Salt Lake City, Park City, Summit County, Utah Valley University, Vail Resorts on behalf of Park City Mountain, and Deer Valley Resort. The facility was contracted under Utah’s Schedule 34 and allows the customers to aggregate their electricity demand to be able to achieve economies of scale by contracting projects with capacity greater than 5 MW. #solar #solarenergy #proconrecruitment #construction