In today’s construction news, learn about how, according to the X post, U.S. Marines allegedly prevented contractors from selling supplies needed to build the border wall. On the other hand, prior to leaving office on January 19, the Biden Administration gave more than $4.37 billion to ten rural power cooperatives in the United States under the Empowering Rural America program of the U.S. Agriculture Department. Finally, in northwest Arizona, 2025 is looking to be a significant year for improvements to the US 93 and Interstate 40 corridors. An $80.6 million project to widen four miles of US 93 between Wikieup and I-40 from two undivided lanes to four divided lanes will be the first new project of the year.
Have US Marines Stopped Contractors From Selling Border Wall Materials
Original Source: FACT CHECK: Did US Marines Stop Contractors From Selling Border Wall Construction Materials?
According to an X post, U.S. Marines stopped contractors from selling border wall components.
False verdict
A Dec. 17 item on the satirical site “Real Raw News” made the fraudulent allegation.
A Fact Check:
President-Elect Donald Trump filed an amicus brief Thursday to ban President Joe Biden from selling border wall construction supplies, calling it “possibly criminal,” Fox News reported. The publication stated that the brief suggests the Biden administration may be committing a “conspiracy to defraud the United States” if the files are sold intentionally.
U.S. Marines allegedly blocked contractors from selling border wall components, according to X. The same post claimed that U.S. Marines in Nogales, Arizona, held off contractors for an hour without violence. The report also says the Biden administration recruited contractors to dismantle the border wall near Nogales, Tucson, and Three Points.
A Dec. 17 item on the satirical site “Real Raw News” made the fraudulent allegation. The site’s “About Us” page has a “Disclaimer” that warns against literal interpretation. “This website provides educational and entertaining information. Comedy, parody, and satire are on this site. Our legal counsel advised us to include this disclaimer for our protection.
Check Your Fact did not discover the claim on the U.S. Marine Corps website or verified social media%20lang%3Aen&src=typedquery accounts. The White House and Biden%20lang%3Aen&src=typedquery) have not commented on the claim. Check Your Fact identified no reputable news reports that support the assertion. Facebook Post Falsely Claims Alejandro Mayorkas Was Executed at Guantanamo Bay
Funding for Late-Stage US Clean Energy Projects Brings $4.37B to Rural Power Co-Ops
Original Source: Rural Power Co-Ops Gain $4.37B in Late-Stage US Clean Energy Project Funding
The Biden Administration awarded more than $4.37 billion to 10 rural power cooperatives through the U.S. Agriculture Dept.’s Empowering Rural America program in its latest—but not final—clean energy financing push before leaving on Jan. 19.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act funding picks join almost $12 billion in prior support for member-owned rural power cooperatives this year. The government claimed the initiative and others represent the largest rural electrification investment since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1936 attempt.
USDA said it chose six more co-ops in Colorado, Louisiana, Oregon, and Washington-Idaho “to move forward in the process” for new program financing and intends to make further announcements “in the coming weeks.”
About $2.7 billion went to Texas and Florida cooperatives.
San Miguel Electric Cooperative Inc. in Atascosa County, Texas, will use its $1.4-billion award to transform its 400-MW lignite coal plant into a 600-MW solar energy and battery storage site for 47 rural southern counties. Texas will have only 14 coal-fired power plants after the co-op switches to renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions by about 1.8 million tons per year.
For years, the Environmental Integrity Project and Sierra Club have accused the San Miguel facility of causing mercury emissions and leaking harmful chemicals from its two coal ash impoundments into groundwater. The nonprofit Texas Tribune writes that the co-op denies the charges and maintains it follows environmental laws.
Using more than $1.3 billion, Tampa-based Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc. will develop 700 MW of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects in rural areas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3.5 million tons annually, according to the agriculture department. Electricity wholesaler serves 2 million clients in 42 counties.
Georgia Transmission Corp. receives up to $325 million for new and upgraded transmission assets in 20 rural communities, and Oglethorpe Power Corp. receives $331.5 million to refinance outstanding loans for the retired Hal B. Wansley coal plant, which served 38 member co-ops.
United Power, a Colorado co-op, will use $262 million to build more than 760 MW of rural renewable energy, while Yampa Valley Electric Association received nearly $50 million for 150 MW of solar and 75 MW of battery storage in northwestern Colorado and southwestern Wyoming.
CORE Electric Cooperative in Colorado received $225 million for 550 MW of wind and solar power and 100 MW of battery storage for rural communities, and Nebraska Electric G&T received $200 million for 725 MW of wind and solar energy in Butler, Burt, and Custer counties.
Minnesota’s largest electric co-op, Connexus Energy, earned approximately $170 million in incentives to build 282 MW of sustainable hydroelectric, solar, wind, and battery storage.
President and CEO Brian Burandt said carbon emissions will be decreased by 2.2 million tons per year “We appreciate that the [Agriculture Dept.] recognizes the substantial benefits our portfolio of projects provides our member-owners in decarbonizing power supply.”
In 2025, There Will Be a Lot of Construction Between Urban Phoenix and Las Vegas
Original Source: Plenty of construction planned between metro Phoenix and Las Vegas in 2025
Northwestern Arizona’s Interstate 40 and US 93 corridors will see major improvements in 2025.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) manages over 20 ongoing and prospective principal motorway projects between metro Phoenix and Las Vegas.
The first project of the year will be a $80.6 million widening of 4 miles of US 93 between Wikieup and I-40 from two undivided lanes to four split lanes.
It’s the latest step in a long-term plan to divide US 93 into four lanes for 200 miles between Wickenburg and Nevada. Construction will start in January and last until 2026.
Kingman improvements to continue
From the Valley to Las Vegas, a new I-40 interchange at US 93 near Kingman will be built. From mid-2024 to 2027, the $106 million project will continue.
Traffic stops at a signal where Beale Street crosses I-40 under the existing configuration. Traffic between I-40 and US 93 will flow freely via the new interchange.
New I-40 interchange at Rancho Santa Fe Parkway will also be built. The $44 million project would reduce Andy Devine Avenue intersection congestion and improve Kingman Airport access.
What else will ADOT do in 2025 for NW Arizona?
ADOT has numerous other I-40 and US 93 improvements starting or ending in 2025:
Multiple 32-mile I-40 paving work between Kingman and the Arizona/California state line will finish.
New Andy Devine Avenue bridge deck in Kingman will be finished.
A 23-mile US 93 paving project in Chloride will begin in 2025 and finish in 2026.
A 13-mile US 93 pavement project in Wikeiup is scheduled for 2025.
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Summary of today’s construction news
In summary, U.S. Marines allegedly prevented contractors from selling building materials for the border wall, according to the X post. The same tweet claims that U.S. Marines were allegedly sent to Nogales, Arizona, where they reportedly engaged in a nonviolent standoff with the contractors for an hour. Additionally, according to the report, the contractors were previously employed by the Biden administration to demolish the border wall close to Nogales, Tucson, and Three Points. The assertion is untrue and was first made in an article on the satirical website “Real Raw News” on December 17.
On the other hand, the largest electric cooperative in Minnesota, Connexus Energy, was awarded over $170 million in funding to build 20 MW of battery storage, 282 MW of sustainable hydropower power, and solar and wind energy. Asserting that carbon emissions will be reduced by 2.2 million tons annually, the organization’s president and CEO, Brian Burandt, said, “We are grateful that the [Agriculture Dept.] recognizes the substantial benefits our portfolio of projects provides our member-owners in decarbonizing power supply.”
Finally, in 2025, ADOT plans to begin and/or complete a number of additional I-40 and US 93 improvements, including the completion of many paving projects spanning 32 miles of I-40 between the Kingman region and the Arizona/California state boundary is planned. The Kingman Bridge deck on Andy Devine Avenue will be completed. Beginning in 2025 and ending in 2026, a 23-mile paving project on US 93 near Chloride is planned. It is anticipated that a new paving project will begin and be completed in 2025 on a 13-mile stretch of US 93 close to Wikeiup.
