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Learn About Drones from Drone Pilots

15 Feb 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

 What comes to mind when you think of drones? Advancements in technology for the betterment of society? Unmanned aircrafts used to spy on private citizens? If you aren’t in the drone-world, you may identify with the spy-movie nature of 24/7 drone surveillance. If you’re a drone fanatic, you may…

How Close Are We to a Smart Grid?

12 Feb 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The power pulsing into your home right now probably comes courtesy of an antiquated system of power plants and transmission lines thought up while horse and buggies were still common on the streets. Even with the advent of the Internet age, we largely still use this one-way power network, and…

Mandy Gunasekara joins Aii Board of Directors

11 Feb 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 11, 2021 Contact: John Cassibry, jcassibry@aii.org   WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 11, 2021) – Former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chief of Staff, Mandy Gunasekara, joins The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) Board of Directors. “We are delighted Mandy is joining our Board of…

Climate Control Requires Fossil Fuels, For Now

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

Forgotten, it seems, in much of the discussion of climate change is the phrase “climate controlled.” This seemingly oxymoronic word pairing usually refers to buildings, which use heating systems and air conditioning to keep what is inside insulated from whatever occurs outside. Clearly climate control does not refer to humanity’s…

Three Stages of Pipeline Opposition and What Each Gets Wrong

14 Jan 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Analysis, Blog Posts

  generally comes in three key stages. Each stage has its merit, but opposition to natural gas pipelines in many instances leads to negative consequences. To separate fact from fiction and dive deeper into the issue, this policy blog explores some of the broader considerations for natural gas pipelines and…

Pipeline Safety Agency Reauthorized in Year-End Omnibus

22 Dec 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

With the year-end omnibus budget and coronavirus stimulus package, the federal government’s top pipeline safety agency was reauthorized. The down-to-the-wire omnibus deal included the reauthorization, which was 447 days overdue, as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) authorization expired in September of 2019. Due to federal rules and…

A Growing Prospect for a Greener Future

14 Dec 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Since the term ‘climate change’ entered into society’s collective lexicon in the 1990s, the issue has steadily amassed political and societal relevance. Now, with many projected consequences of climate change looming, scientists are investigating innovative solutions to avert crisis — one of the more surprising of which is algae sequestration….

The Road Ahead for Biden: Infrastructure Priorities

02 Dec 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

As this tumultuous election year comes to a close, the public eye is now focused attentively on the incoming administration’s proposed agenda to revive a beleaguered economy and suppress the spread of COVID-19. However, another crisis has been looming. As the Council on Foreign Relations reports, the state of U.S….

447 Days Without A Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Bill

04 Nov 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

While the results of the election are still uncertain, one thing is all too clear: Congress has allowed the nation’s chief pipeline safety regulator to lapse without reauthorization for 400 days. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) was up for reauthorization late in 2019. That reauthorization is important…

Innovation is Bringing Natural Gas into the Future

03 Nov 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

  The futuristic vision of drones, artificial intelligence, and other smart technology building and maintaining our critical infrastructure is closer than many think. Already, many in the transportation and utility sector employ those very technologies in daily operations to ensure efficiency and safety. As proponents of innovation, Aii hopes to…

Why Do Some People Not Worry About Climate Change

22 Oct 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Analysis, Blog Posts

  – formerly Global Warming – is as controversial as any topic in politics today. As wildfires rage, sea ice melts, droughts appear, storms batter the coasts, and temperatures climb, it is easy to see climate change as the controlling factor lurking behind it all. How then, can some people…

532,000 Excavation Damages Cost The US $30 Billion in 2019, What Are States Doing About It?

16 Oct 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Analysis, Blog Posts

Excavation Damage Every person is required to call 811 or notify their safe digging One-Call center before breaking ground. That is for backyard projects, tree planting, home construction, or professional-level excavation. Failing to do this threatens to expose or damage a pipeline, electrical line, telephone or Internet cable, water main,…

New Report Grades Each State’s Damage Prevention Laws

14 Oct 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts, Press Releases

Washington D.C, – October 14, 2020 – The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) today released a new report for state legislatures, regulatory bodies, and damage prevention professionals: 2020 Damage Prevention Report Card. This comprehensive analysis of every state’s damage prevention laws and regulations tracks progress over time in key…

How Pizza Can Show Damage Prevention A Better Way Forward

29 Sep 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The damage prevention industry is critically important for public safety. To properly prevent damage, communication and use of technology are essential. This not only guarantees smooth, efficient, and cost effective projects, it literally saves lives. Every year, millions of dollars in lost productivity, service interruption, property damage, and even serious…