All Posts

Hazardous Materials

New Report Shows Over 99.999% of U.S. Hazardous Material Is Transported Safely

01 Jul 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts, Press Releases

Washington, D.C, July 1, 2021 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) released its newest report, How the U.S. Moves Hazardous Materials. The report surveys the safety and effectiveness, climate impact, efficiency, and cost of the four available methods for transporting energy resources: pipelines, trains, trucks, and ships. All…

rail roads

A Busy Intersection: Rail Roads, Roadways, and Climate

28 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Public policy is notorious for intersecting with various other policies, market forces, and public and private actions. It is one reason unintended consequences can be so prolific, and why ‘the path to hell is paved with good intentions’ rings so true. One such intersection involves rail roads, roadways, and the…

Wind Energy, Plain to Sea

24 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Windy days may be a welcome change from summer heat or a warning of the calm before the storm. Whatever its impact, it is almost always there in the background of our lives. Wind has been a great renewable energy resource for centuries and may only be getting better. Not…

high-speed rail

High-Speed Rail Receiving Revived Attention

22 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Imagine the U.S. crisscrossed with rapid, efficient, and accessible high-speed passenger trains. That is the ambition of the nation’s youngest Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. Vision-casting in February, Buttigieg said he wants the United States to be “leading the world when it comes to access to high-speed rail.” This comment…

infrastructure

A Different Trillion-Dollar Deficit

21 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The federal government has spent vast resources to build and maintain the current administrative state, provide for defense, meet healthcare obligations, and more. With trillions allocated each year, spending often overtakes revenues creating massive deficits as much as a trillion dollars. But there is another trillion-dollar deficit that is draining…

longer trains

Do Longer Trains Pose Problems or Solutions?

16 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The rail system has been used to transport freight since the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad became the first to commercially transport passengers and freight in 1827. Since then, rail has become a crucial part of transporting goods, growing in economic volume moved and longer trains. The rail industry’s evolution has…

Aii home donate

New Policy Brief Outlines America’s Top 5 Infrastructure Challenges

16 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Press Releases

Washington, D.C, June 16, 2021 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) released its newest policy brief, America’s Top Infrastructure Challenges. The brief details top areas of infrastructure that need the attention of industry participants, state officials, and the federal government. Aii identified five infrastructure components that are most…

natural resources

Alaska: A Nature Preserve or Natural Resource Provider?

10 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

When ordinary folks or even experienced policymakers discuss natural resources, what specifically comes to mind? While minerals, oil wells, mines, and rich agricultural land come to mind for some, the term “natural resources” has seemingly undergone an evolution in meaning in the last few decades. This shift carries with it…

dig of the future

The Dig of the Future Is Here Today

03 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Excavation damages to underground infrastructure – or more simply, digging projects that hit things like pipelines and internet cables – are on a five year upswing. Every year, more sensitive and critical infrastructure is being struck, damaged, and shuttered. Shovels and power tools breaking ground and hitting these unseen service…

crew size

Achieving Effective Rail Safety Starts With Technology

01 Jun 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Railroads have served the needs of people and commerce in the United States for nearly 200 years. Since 1827, when the first steam-powered locomotive debuted, to America’s original 13-mile track and beyond, rail has been on a continuous journey of improvement. Today, approximately 139,679 miles of track facilitate the movement…

infrastructure package

Why An Infrastructure Package Could Harm Critical Infrastructure

25 May 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Seemingly the only area of public policy left unmarred by partisan politics is infrastructure. Both sides of the aisle agree that infrastructure maintenance, resilience, and investment are essential. While partisan differences emerge when defining the scope of infrastructure or the price tag, there is clear bipartisan support for revitalizing American…

pipe

“Pipe is the best way to go,” says Biden Energy Secretary

14 May 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The Biden Administration Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, said Tuesday that “pipe is the best way to go” to transport fuel. The comments were made in response to the Colonial pipeline shuttering service due to a ransomware attack. The context is important, as Secretary Granholm’s comments were specific…

Protecting Physical Infrastructure Amidst A Cyber Attack

13 May 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The recent Colonial pipeline cyber attack and ensuing disruption implicates excavation damage prevention. As industry stakeholders continue to strengthen their damage prevention systems, greater use and reliance on effective technology will be critical. Damage Prevention is the overarching process of avoiding harm to pipelines and other underground infrastructure when digging…

Diving into the Digital Divide

08 Apr 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The word infrastructure can mean different things to different people. To some, infrastructure refers to the roads, railways, and other transportation systems that connect us. To others, it is the schools, hospitals, and physical buildings that are occupied by organizations that serve society. Both are correct, given that the word…