ISSUE 68
November 2021
National Organization of Minority Architects Hosted 50th Anniversary Online Conference and Gala Weekend
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) hosted its national annual conference on Oct. 20-23, 2021, marking the 50th anniversary of NOMA’s founding. NOMA was founded by 12 Black architects in 1971, at the AIA Convention in Detroit. While the NOMA conference sessions were online, NOMA paid homage to the…
Habitat Project Receives Texas APA Resilience Award
By Destiny Vaquera, University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Contributor Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Professor Bruce Race’s habitat project, Robins Landing Town Center: Strategies and Guidance for Resilience, was recently awarded the Texas American Planning Association (APA) Resilience Award. This award recognizes a strategy increasing the…
Hines College Celebrates Historic 75th Anniversary
By Stephen Schad, University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Contributor The University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design celebrated its milestone 75th anniversary with a historic gala event on Saturday, October 9th, chaired by alumnus and Senior Principal at Page/ Arturo Chavez ’90 and driven by…
Only 14 States and D.C. Added Construction Jobs Since the Pandemic Began as Supply Problems, Lack of Infrastructure Bill Undermine Recovery
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Only 14 states and the District of Columbia have added construction jobs since just before the start of the pandemic in February 2020, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that widespread supply chain disruptions amid…
Prices for Construction Materials Continue to Outstrip Bid Prices Over 12 Months, Despite Dip in September, Amid Increasing Supply-Chain Problems
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The prices contractors pay for construction materials far outstripped the prices contractors charge in the 12 months ending in September, despite a recent decline in a few materials prices, while delivery problems intensified, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association…
CPS Energy President & CEO Paula Gold-Williams Announces Early 2022 Departure
By Dana C Sotoodeh, CPS Energy Contributor Recently, CPS Energy President & CEO, Paula Gold-Williams, has informed the Board of Trustees of her plans to leave the company in early 2022. Gold-Williams will work cooperatively with the Board of Trustees through this transition. “The Board of Trustees thanks Ms. Gold-Williams for her dedicated tenure as…
Protect Yourself From Energy Fraud
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The Department of Energy is strongly committed to effective program oversight, including allegations of fraud. The Department takes such allegations seriously and is committed to keeping the public informed about fraudulent practices. A growing number of companies provide energy efficiency services. While the vast majority operates in full compliance with…
RRC Commissioners Appoint Members to Texas Energy Reliability Council
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Railroad Commission of Texas commissioners recently appointed five members to represent different segments of the state’s natural gas industry to the Texas Energy Reliability Council (TERC). TERC was formalized in Senate Bill 3 to “ensure that the energy and electric industries in this state meet high priority human needs and…
From the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, Reliant and EarthShare of Texas Reach $2 Million Milestone in Protecting the Environment
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Reliant and EarthShare of Texas are celebrating 10 years of partnership and $2 million raised through the Reliant EcoShare℠ program. By joining the program, Reliant customers empower EarthShare of Texas to support environmental stewardship in the community while reducing their own carbon footprint. “In just ten years, Reliant’s EcoShare℠ program…
Progressives and Conservatives Chose Partisanship Over Progress in Decision To Delay Passage of Much-needed Infrastructure Bill
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to another delayed vote on the Bipartisan Infrastructure measure in the U.S. House of Representatives: “It is extremely disappointing that some progressive Democrats and the Republican leadership would again delay…
The Associated General Contractors of America Meets With White House on OSHA COVID-19 Testing Mandate
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Recently, The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) met with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to share a host of concerns about the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) draft emergency temporary standard (ETS). OSHA sent the draft ETS—the details of which remain unknown—to OMB…
RRC Commissioners Assess Penalties
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The Railroad Commission of Texas’ (RRC) mission is to serve Texas by their stewardship of natural resources and the environment, their concern for personal and community safety and their support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The RRC has a long and proud history of…
RRC Working on Proactive Measures for the Upcoming Winter
By Subcontractors USA News Provider While the Railroad Commission of Texas continues implementing legislation to help fortify the state’s energy supply for weather emergencies, the agency is taking steps to get ahead of the game. As we come off the summer season, the Commission issued a Notice to Operators asking gas facility and gas pipeline…
Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for September 2021
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 801 original drilling permits in September 2021 compared to 437 in September 2020. The September 2021 total includes 714 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, four to re-enter plugged wellbores, and 77 for re-completions of existing wellbores. The breakdown…
The Top 7 Ways To Say “Thank You” to City Plan Reviewers for Approving Your Plans for Permitting
By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer Here’s the truth. The PermitUsNow team loves working with jurisdictions across Texas, throughout the U.S., and in Canada. We look forward to the challenges in meeting building codes and enjoy working with plan reviewers, plan analysts, supervisors, and other city staff. Now, before you shake your head thinking we are…
US Department of Labor Initiates Rulemaking to Protect Workers, Outdoors and Indoors, From Heat Hazards Amid Rising Temperatures
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Record-breaking heat in the U.S. in 2021 endangered millions of workers exposed to heat illness and injury in both indoor and outdoor work environments. Workers in outdoor and indoor work settings without adequate climate-controlled environments are at risk of hazardous heat exposure, and workers of color are exposed disproportionately to…
US Department of Labor Sues Austin Luxury Car Dealer That Retaliated Against Employee Who Raised Concerns of Coronavirus Hazards
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against an Austin luxury car dealer for terminating an employee who warned managers and other co-workers about potential coronavirus hazards in the workplace. The action follows an investigation by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration that found Hi Tech Motorcars LLC,…
Michele Wong Krause Elected Chair of DART Board of Directors
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Recently, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors elected Michele Wong Krause of Dallas as their chair for a two-year term. Appointed to the DART Board in 2014 to represent the City of Dallas, Wong Krause recently served as vice chair. She also presently serves on the American…
DFW Airport Launches New Security Fast Pass Pilot Program
By Subcontractors USA News Provider DFW Airport customers can now skip security checkpoint lines thanks to DFW Security Fast Pass. DFW’s new pilot program allows customers to make a Fast Pass reservation to bypass TSA’s general screening line at the Terminal D checkpoint D-18. Fast Pass travelers arrive at designated time and will be escorted…