Coal fueled the rise of the Industrial Revolution and the proliferation of everything from personal cars to iron ore smelting. The advent of new technology that harnessed coal’s massive energy density led to massive spikes in the quality of life for many industrialized countries. However, while coal became an industrial…
Now more than ever, efforts to combat climate change are becoming universal. Individuals, corporations, and governments are looking for ways to consume more sustainably, reduce their natural resource usage, and better steward the environment. With everyone looking for ways to aid in the fight for climate equilibrium, a key part…
This blog series Technology Highlight explores some of the ways that investments in innovation lead to better outcomes for infrastructure and public safety. When technology advances, it often becomes cheaper, more widely available and accessible, and helps facilitate faster, safer, and greener projects. This series launched by…
Going Nuclear Irradiated landscapes, poisoned water supplies, the ubiquitous gas masks donned by radiation cleaners in the Chernobyl HBO series: these are the images that come to mind for many when hearing about nuclear power. Needless to say, this dramatized picture of Soviet infrastructure is a far cry from the true…
Washington, D.C, August 3, 2021 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) today kicked off August “Energy Month” to provide in-depth analysis and educational resources on America’s seven primary energy resources. Throughout the month, Aii will release briefs, graphics, and blog posts to elevate America’s energy IQ and…
When policymakers and ordinary people hear the words “natural gas”, the common picture is a highly flammable gas pulled from the ground in a carbon intensive and environmentally stressful process. They may also associate it with the terms exhaustible and fossil fuel. However, that same gas that is pumped from…
This blog series Technology Highlight explores some of the ways that investments in innovation lead to better outcomes for infrastructure and public safety. When technology advances, it often becomes cheaper, more widely available and accessible, and helps facilitate faster, safer, and greener projects. This series launched by…
While pipeline spills involving toxic crude oil or methane leaks capture the public imagination, they do not represent all pipeline breakdowns. A different segment of the energy industry, handling more than just oil and gas, also encounters incidents. The upstream sector of the energy industry is responsible for exploration and…
Broadband and internet access is an increasingly important. While broadband may seem less important than other infrastructure, it has enormous implications. Rather than causing overt damage and harm like potholes or excavation damage do, lack of access to broadband hinders economic growth, access to information, and participation in additional services like…
The past decade has seen the birth of many tree-planting projects. Countries, companies, and cohorts have committed to planting millions, billions, and even one trillion trees by certain short-term dates. These efforts are growing in popularity and may succeed in achieving multiple objectives, including combatting the effects of deforestation, contributing…
This blog series Technology Highlight will explore some of the ways that investments in innovation lead to better outcomes for infrastructure and public safety. When technology advances, it often becomes cheaper, more widely available and accessible, and helps facilitate faster, safer, and greener projects. While technology is…
Farming has been around since the dawn of man and has always managed to keep pace with our needs. Technology has changed many aspects of farming, making it quicker, easier, and more efficient. However, when considering limitations on land and growth in population, there is only so much that technology…
As individuals and organizations focus on ways to improve their environmental, social, and governance impacts, discussions often center around climate. Seemingly the most common approach is to simply avoid fossil fuels altogether, but in the energy industry, that is not always possible or desirable. Where developing fossil fuels is the…
In the race for more viable forms of energy, a promising contender is that of natural gas vehicles (NGV). Rather than traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles, NGVs run on alternative forms of power: liquified natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG). Not only has there been a rise in manufacturing of…
The Pacific Northwest faced several record-breaking days of sweltering weather during the first week of July. Temperatures in Portland, Oregon reached 116 F, while Lytton, British Columbia broke the Canadian record for highest recorded temperature at 121 F. These heat waves have ramifications for both residents and the underlying infrastructure…
