Dallas Goes Green, Requires Builders Do Same

From reducing energy consumption to developing solar, nuclear and wind power, Texas leads the way with alternative energy; also, water projects get financial assistance for system improvements.

Dallas City Council Passes New Green Construction Ordinance

The Dallas City Council adopted a green construction ordinance that aims to reduce energy and water consumption in all new houses and commercial buildings constructed in the city.

The ordinance will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, starting in 2009, requires that homebuilders construct their homes to be 15% more efficient than the base energy code and meet four out of six high-efficiency water reduction strategies. In phase two, beginning in 2011, it requires all homes to be built to either the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard or the Green Built North Texas standard.

For commercial projects, phase one of the new ordinance requires buildings less than 50,000 sq ft to be 15% more efficient than the base energy code, use 20% less water than required by the current Dallas Plumbing Code, all roof surfaces with a slope of 2:12 in. or less must meet the EPA's ENERGY STAR low-slope roof requirements; and meet outdoor lighting restrictions, except for safety and security reasons as applicable.

For commercial projects more than 50,000 sq ft, phase one requires buildings to meet 85% of the points required under the appropriate LEED rating system for a certified level. Beginning in 2011, phase two requires all commercial projects to be LEED certifiable under the appropriate LEED rating system.

Texas Enterprise Fund Invests in Solar Power Company

The Texas Enterprise Fund announced plans to invest $1 million in HelioVolt Corp. of Austin for the construction of a 125,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility and development space to test and produce the company's thin-film solar power cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. The deal will create nearly 160 jobs and $62 million in capital investment.

Texas was in competition with New York, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania for the facility. HelioVolt, founded in 2001, uses thin-film solar materials made from an alloy called Copper Indium Gallium Selenide. The new technology produces thinner, more absorbent and less expensive solar modules than traditional silicon technology.

Fluor Awarded Contracts Valued at $420 Million

Irving-based Fluor Corp. will provide construction and commissioning support to Luminant for a $100 million-plus contract for air-quality control upgrades on its Sandow Plant Unit 4 electric station in Rockdale. The Sandow Steam Electric Station Unit 4 is a lignite-fueled generating unit owned and operated by Luminant. Fluor booked the full contract value in the first quarter of 2008.

In addition to the new contract, Fluor has provided front-end design and detailed engineering for this selective catalytic reduction project. Fluor is also providing engineering, procurement and construction services for selective non-catalytic reduction and activated carbon injection projects at Luminant's Sandow, Martin Lake, Monticello and Big Brown sites.

Engineering began in May 2007, with an estimated construction completion date of May 2010. Site mobilization occurred in January, with the major tie-in outage scheduled for February to April 2010.

Luminant, a subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings Corp., is a competitive power generation business.

Fluor was also awarded a contract for the detailed engineering, procurement services and construction management by Enagas for the new El Musel LNG Terminal along Spain's north coast. Enagas is Spain's top natural gas transportation, regasification and storage company and the technical manager of the country's gas system. Fluor will be responsible for contracts and materials on the project worth approximately $320 million. Fluor booked the entire amount in the first quarter.

The Department of Energy confirmed its January selection of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, a Fluor-led team, as the winning bidder for the management and operating contract at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, S.C. The estimated $4 billion contract covers a five-year period. Additionally, there are five, one-year renewal options bringing the potential total contract value to $8 billion. To date, no specific contract amounts have been booked into Fluor's backlog. Fluor expects to start booking earnings from the M&O contract into backlog in the third quarter.

The company also announced that AMECO, a unit of Fluor, achieved 20 million safe work hours from March 1, 2001 to March 17, 2008, with no lost-time injuries among its global workforce of more than 1,800 employees.

CB&I Awarded Contracts for LNG Facility, Nuclear Power Project

Horton CBI, a subsidiary of CB&I of The Woodlands, was awarded a contract valued at approximately $150 million for a liquefied natural gas peak shaving project on Vancouver Island, B.C. The facility, to be owned and operated by Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc., a subsidiary of Terasen Inc., is designed to provide additional seasonal peaking capacity for the benefit of natural gas customers on Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia or use throughout the service territory.

CB&I was also awarded a contract by Westinghouse Electric Co. for the first of two containment vessels as part of Westinghouse's USAP1000 New Plant Initiatives. CB&I's initial contract authorizes project planning, design and engineering work for the containment vessels. Additional engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction contracts are expected to follow upon further authorization by Westinghouse.

Earlier this year, CB&I, which has built 75% of the nuclear containment vessels currently operating in the U.S., renewed its nuclear certifications, including the N, NA, NPT and NS Certificates of Accreditation from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

State Approves Funding for Kickapoo, Terry County Airports

The Texas Transportation Commission approved about $562,500 for Kickapoo Downtown Airport improvements including hangar construction and approximately $1.2 million for the Terry County Airport for improvements that include pavement upgrades.

Kickapoo project costs will be funded through TxDOT's Aviation Facilities Grant Program and the city of Wichita Falls.

Project costs for Terry County will be funded through TxDOT's Aviation Facilities Grant Program.

Arrivals and departures from community airports account for more than three million flight hours per year and provide aircraft facilities for agricultural, medical, business and commuter use.

EPA Awards Funding to Texas Railroad Commission, City of El Paso

The Environmental Protection Agency awarded $46,068 to the Texas Railroad Commission to protect underground sources of drinking water and $350,001 to the city of El Paso to enforce federal, state and local air pollution regulations.

The federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulates the underground disposal of hazardous wastes through deep injection wells. The commission will use the funds to issue permits, monitor the construction and operation of injection wells throughout the state and conduct field surveillance, inspections, investigations and enforcement activities.

By implementing a year-round fuels program and maintaining the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez air monitoring network, the city hopes to meet its objective of continuing to meet federal air and water quality standards in El Paso.

Texas Water Development Funds for Water-Related Projects

The Texas Water Development Board has approved financial assistance totaling $17.8 million for a variety of projects across the state.

Included in the allocated funds are: $5.6 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for water system improvements for the Hidalgo County Municipal Utility District; $8.5 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund awarded for wastewater system improvements, with the city of Sabinal receiving $4 million, the Hidalgo County Municipal Utility District  getting $3.5 million and the city of Eastland getting $975,000.

Port of Houston Adds Port Security, Emergency Operations Manager

Veteran security professional William H. Crews joined the Port of Houston Authority in the newly created role of port security and emergency operations manager for the PHA Port Police department, which recently changed its name to the Port Security & Emergency Operations.

Crews is responsible for monitoring the PHA's security, including meeting Coast Guard and other regulatory requirements as well as maintaining oversight of the police department. He recently served as chief of security at NASA's flight research facility in California.

Two Texas Firms Awarded SC&RA Longevity Honors

Two Texas companies were among the 25 honored by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association for continuous membership ranging from 25 to 60 years. The Longevity Awards were presented during the group's annual conference this spring.

Southwestern Industrial Contractors & Riggers Inc. of El Paso was honored for 60 years of membership and Mammoet USA of Houston was honored for 30 years of membership.

The SC&RA is an international trade association of nearly 1,300 members from 43 nations. Members are involved in specialized transportation, machinery moving and erecting, industrial maintenance, millwrighting and crane and rigging operations, manufacturing and rental.

Texas Still Tops States in Total and New Wind Power

Wind energy leaders in most categories held onto their No. 1 positions in the latest version of the American Wind Energy Association's annual rankings of wind power leadership in the United States.

The new listings, based on numbers compiled at the end of 2007, closely resemble those from the previous year, with Texas top among states in both total and new wind power.

Continental Manufacturing Signs on as Rich Fiber Distributor

Houston-based Continental Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and its concrete mixer manufacturer, CBMW Mixers of Houston and Dallas, signed on to be the sole distributor in North and South America of a new concrete additive, Rich Fiber, manufactured by Owens Corning.

This material is added directly to ready mix and disperses evenly throughout for uniform product enhancement. It is distinguished from other fiber additives in that Rich Fiber is a specially formulated glass material offering specific gravity, durability, strength, and overall performance to competing polymer fibers.

Continental Manufacturing Co. has facilities in Houston and Dallas.