The Nation

AUGUSTA, Maine — Under the Maine Department of Transportation’s (MaineDOT) three-year work plan for 2021-2023, released Jan. 25, nearly $1.4 billion is set aside for highway and bridge capital projects. The plan — which includes all capital projects and programs, maintenance and operations activities, planning initiatives, and administrative functions — contains 2,180 individual work items with a total value of $2.71 billion. According to a prepared statement from MaineDOT, the plan “maintains essential services and provides for solid capital programs” through “robust and prudent state bonding made possible by historically low interest rates and by fully utilizing discretionary and extraordinary federal funding.” It also seeks to expand partnership programs, support existing and emerging businesses, refocus investment in our villages, and confront climate change, the statement continues. The nearly $1.4 billion set aside for highway and bridge capital projects over the next three years is allocated for: 166 bridge projects (estimated cost: $504 million); 100 miles of highway construction and rehabilitation (estimated cost: $212 million); 222 highway safety and spot improvements (estimated cost: $122 million); 893 miles of preservation paving (estimated cost: $321 million); and 2,175 miles of light capital paving (estimated cost: $108 million). The project with the highest price tag is constructing the Interstate 395/Route 9 connector in Brewer/Eddington with a cost of $90.8 million. Other projects in the plan include: Replacement of two bridges that carry Interstate 295 in Yarmouth and two that cross I-295 in Freeport (estimated cost of all four projects: $38.8 million); this project is partially funded by $18.9 million in federal grant money. Replacement of the Route 1 (Station 46) Bridge in Woolwich (estimated cost: $32.5 million); this project is partially funded by $25 million in federal grant money. Bridge replacements and intersection improvements in Old Town and Stillwater (estimated cost: $20 million); this project is partially funded by $10.7 million in federal grant money. A railroad siding and platform project to improve Downeaster service in Wells (estimated cost: $23 million); this project is partially funded by $16.2 in federal grant money. Continued work on the Acadia Gateway Center project in Trenton (estimated cost: $23 million); this project is partially funded by $12.8 million in federal grant money. Two Maine State Ferry Service vessel replacements (estimated cost: $19 million). Heavy rehabilitation work on U.S. Route 1 in Machias and East Machias (estimated cost: $6 million). Dredging Searsport harbor (estimated cost: $5.3 million). Improvements to the Eastern Trail in Scarborough (estimated cost: $4.8 million). MaineDOT’s work plan is dependent on funding assumptions involving state Highway Fund revenue, state bonding and federal funds. If funding sources do not materialize, the items within the plan will be adjusted to reflect funding changes. According to MaineDOT, the agency’s on-time delivery rate for its capital program was a record-breaking 94% in 2020. However, the state’s transportation needs continue to outpace available resources. The pre-pandemic estimate of MaineDOT’s unmet need was $232 million per year. That shortfall figure was calculated after assuming that state bonding of $100 million or more will continue annually. The economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic including drops in traffic volumes and, subsequently, Highway Fund revenue have exacerbated MaineDOT’s funding challenges. “In the short term, we must focus on defeating the virus, restoring our economy, helping Maine people and businesses in need, and addressing budget shortfalls,” said Bruce Van Note, MaineDOT commissioner. “In the long term, we have great opportunities to make a real difference for the people of Maine after we resolve the chronic funding challenges in our transportation system. By investing in transportation, we can move Maine forward.”

WASHINGTON — In the most ambitious U.S. effort to stave off the worst effects of climate change, President Joe Biden issued executive orders Wednesday, Jan. 27, to cut oil, gas and coal emissions and double energy production from offshore wind turbines. The orders target federal subsidies for oil and other fossil fuels and halt new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. They also aim to conserve 30% of the country’s lands and ocean waters in the next 10 years and move to an all-electric federal vehicle fleet. Biden’s sweeping plan is aimed at slowing human-caused global warming, but it also carries political risk for the president and Democrats as oil- and coal-producing states face job losses from moves to sharply increase U.S. reliance on clean energy such as wind and solar power. “We can’t wait any longer”’ to address the climate crisis, Biden said at the White House. “We see with our own eyes. We know it in our bones. It is time to act.” He said his orders will “supercharge our administration’s ambitious plan to confront the existential threat of climate change.” Biden has set a goal of eliminating pollution from fossil fuel in the power sector by 2035 and from the U.S. economy overall by 2050, speeding what is already a market-driven growth of solar and wind energy and lessening the country’s dependence on oil and gas. The aggressive plan is aimed at slowing human-caused global warming that is magnifying extreme weather events such as deadly wildfires in the West and drenching rains and hurricanes in the East. Biden acknowledged the political risk, repeatedly stating that his approach would create jobs in the renewable energy and automotive sectors to offset any losses in oil, coal or natural gas. “When I think of climate change and the answers to it, I think of jobs,” Biden said. “We’re going to put people to work. We’re not going to lose jobs. These aren’t pie-in-the-sky dreams. These are concrete actionable solutions. And we know how to do this.’” In a change from previous administrations of both parties, Biden also is directing agencies to focus help and investment on the low-income and minority communities that live closest to polluting refineries and other hazards, and the oil- and coal-patch towns that face job losses as the U.S. moves to sharply increase its reliance on wind, solar and other energy sources that do not emit climate-warming greenhouse gases. Biden pledged to create up to a million jobs building electric cars, as well as installing solar panels, wind turbines, “capping abandoned walls, reclaiming mines, turning old brownfield sites into the new hubs of economic growth.” Even so, Republicans immediately criticized the plan as a job killer. “Pie-in-the-sky government mandates and directives that restrict our mining, oil, and gas industries adversely impact our energy security and independence,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “At a time when millions are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing Americans need is big government destroying jobs, while costing the economy billions of dollars.” Biden also is elevating climate change to a national security priority. The conservation plan would set aside millions of acres for recreation, wildlife and climate efforts by 2030 as part of Biden’s campaign pledge for a $2 trillion program to slow global warming. President Donald Trump, who ridiculed the science of climate change, withdrew the U.S. from the Paris global climate accord; opened more public lands to coal, gas and oil production; and weakened regulation on fossil fuel emissions. Experts say these emissions are heating the Earth’s climate dangerously and worsening floods, droughts and other natural disasters. Georgia Tech climate scientist Kim Cobb called Biden’s executive orders an “excellent start” for the new administration. “If this Day 7 momentum is representative of this administration’s four-year term, there is every reason to believe that we might achieve carbon neutrality sooner than 2050,” even as key roadblocks lie ahead, Cobb said. Biden’s actions came as his nominee for energy secretary, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, faced deep skepticism from Republicans as she tried to pitch the president’s vision for a green economy. “The last Democratic administration went on a regulatory rampage to slow or stop energy production,” said Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a leading Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “I’m not going to sit idly by … if the Biden administration enforces policies that threaten Wyoming’s economy.” Granholm, as the leader of a state devastated by the 2008 recession, said she knew what it was like to “look in the eyes of men and women who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.” She promoted emerging clean energy technologies, such as battery manufacturing, as an answer for jobs that will be lost as the U.S. transitions away from fossil fuels. Granholm and other officials said the investment in cleaner energy national will net millions of jobs. But that probably will take years to happen, and the orders will face intense opposition from oil and gas and power plant industries, as well as from many Republican — and Democratic — lawmakers. “The environmental left is leading the agenda at the White House when it comes to energy and environment issues,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, which represents oil and gas drillers in Western states. The group filed a legal challenge soon after Biden signed the orders. Biden is seeking to double energy production from offshore wind after the Trump administration slowed permit review of some giant offshore wind turbine projects. Significantly, he is directing agencies to eliminate spending that acts as subsidies for fossil fuel industries. “The fossil fuel industry has inflicted tremendous damage on the planet. The administration’s review, if done correctly, will show that filthy fracking and drilling must end for good, everywhere,” said Kierán Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that has pushed for the drilling pause. Oil industry groups said Biden had already eliminated thousands of oil and gas jobs by killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office. “Do not be fooled, this is a ban” on drilling, said Dan Naatz of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. “The Biden administration’s plan to obliterate the jobs of American oil and gas explorers and producers has been on clear display.” The pause in onshore leasing is limited to federal lands and does not affect drilling on private lands, which is largely regulated by states. It also will not affect existing leases and could be further blunted by companies that stockpiled enough drilling permits in Trump’s final months to allow them to keep pumping oil and gas for years. The order exempts tribal lands, mainly in the West, that are used for energy production. Biden also will direct all U.S. agencies to use science- and evidence-based decision-making in federal rule-making and announce a U.S.-hosted climate leaders summit on Earth Day, April 22. By Matthew Daly and Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press. Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe and Brian Slodysko contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — A Senate panel on Wednesday, Jan. 27, easily advanced President Joe Biden’s nomination of Pete Buttigieg to be transportation secretary, setting up a final confirmation vote for a key role in Biden’s push to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure and confront climate change. The Commerce Committee approved the nomination of Buttigieg, a 39-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, on a 21-3 vote. His nomination now heads to the full Senate, where a vote could happen as early as this week. He would be the first openly gay person, and one of the youngest, confirmed by the Senate to a Cabinet post. Biden has been urging the Senate, where Democrats hold a bare majority, to move quickly on his Cabinet picks given the current crisis of COVID-19, which prompted him in part to sign an executive order mandating masks on airplanes and in public transportation to help stem the spread of the deadly virus. The president has also pledged an ambitious agenda of jobs growth, fighting climate change and promoting racial equity. Sen. Maria Cantwell, the panel’s incoming Democratic chair, praised Buttigieg’s credentials before the vote Wednesday and urged quick confirmation so he can get to work on COVID-19 safety in transportation. “He understands what all of us have to deal with on transportation and infrastructure,” Cantwell said. With the transportation sector, particularly car emissions, a top contributor in the United States to global warming, Buttigieg, a former Democratic presidential rival whom Biden praised as bringing “a new voice,” is expected to play an important role in the climate agenda. Advocates hope his public stature and loyal following from the 2020 campaign could help win over lawmakers and push through broad infrastructure changes long unachievable on Capitol Hill. Buttigieg, in a tweet, thanked the members of the Commerce Committee for “their vote of confidence in me” on Wednesday. He said he looked forward to teaming with members of the committee “as we get to work on infrastructure and building our economy back better.” At his confirmation hearing last week, Buttigieg received bipartisan praise as he pledged an immediate focus on transportation safety while pointing to a “generational” opportunity to help remake how people travel. As examples, he pledged to help put in place new federal automotive fuel economy standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote quicker development of self-driving cars and push the use of electric vehicles, such as by adding a half-million charging stations nationwide. Republican senators during his hearing signaled future battles ahead over the cost and scope of updating the nation’s roads and bridges, rails and airports, a broad goal that eluded former President Donald Trump the last four years, but they said they looked forward to many discussions with Buttigieg. Voting against Buttigieg on Wednesday were three Republican senators: Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida, two possible presidential contenders in 2024, as well as Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. Biden has said he will unveil the full details of his infrastructure plan next month. By Hope Yen, The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — As many as 50 new Love’s Travel Stops, with a combined total of more than 3,000 new truck parking spots, are planned for 2021, the company announced Jan. 26. The announcement follows a challenging 2020 during which Love’s opened 38 new locations, added more than 3,000 truck parking spaces and donated several million dollars to fight COVID-19, injustice and poverty and to help sick and injured children. “2020 was difficult, but our teams worked together to open new locations, add parking spaces and serve customers despite the pandemic,” said Shane Wharton, president of Love’s. “In 2021, we’ll grow our travel stop network where our customers have asked us to, add new products and services and open new truck care centers to get professional truck drivers back on the road quickly and safely.” The Love’s company announced additional plans for 2021, including: Open more than 30 Love’s Truck Care and Speedco locations, the nation’s largest oil change and preventive maintenance network with the most comprehensive roadside coverage for professional drivers and 1,500 maintenance bays and 400 locations across the country. Continue to enhance the Love’s Connect mobile app with new features. Continue to expand the Love’s-branded product line and introduce new fresh food offerings. Increase fueling options across the U.S. through Trillium, a provider of alternative and renewable fuel supply, design, installation and operations.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Portions of two interstate highways were among multiple routes that remained closed Tuesday morning, Jan. 26, due to difficult driving conditions from winter weather in Arizona’s high country. Winter storm warnings or advisories remained in effect in many parts of Arizona, and the National Weather Service said heavy snow was falling from Flagstaff to Heber. In Nevada, higher-elevation outlying areas of metro Las Vegas got light snowfall Tuesday morning. Up to 1 inch was expected in some places before the storm was expected to taper off by midday, the National Weather Service said. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) said closures included eastbound Interstate 40 at State Route 89 in Ash Fork and northbound Interstate 17 at the junction with State Route 179 south of Sedona. Other highways with partial closures as of Tuesday morning included U.S. 60 from Globe to Show Low in eastern Arizona, State Route 89 from Chino Valley to I-40 in northern Arizona, and U.S. 80 in Bisbee in southeastern Arizona. ADOT urges drivers to postpone travel in the high country until the latest storm has passed and says those who do travel should be prepared for extended time on the road Preliminary snowfall reports from the latest storm included 14.2 inches at the Flagstaff airport and 16 inches Payson between Sunday night and late Monday, the weather service said.

OMAHA, Neb. — A major winter storm threatened to blanket parts of the middle of the country with more than a foot of snow Monday, Jan. 25, promising to disrupt travel and even forcing the closure of some coronavirus testing sites. The National Weather Service said at least 4 inches of snow is expected across most of an area stretching from central Kansas northeast to Chicago and southern Michigan. Parts of southeast Nebraska and western Iowa could get more than three times that much. Several coronavirus testing sites in Nebraska and Iowa planned to close early Monday because of the snow. More than 6 inches of snow had already fallen in parts of eastern Nebraska by midday. National Weather Service meteorologist Taylor Nicolaisen said 10 to 15 inches of snow is likely between Lincoln, Nebraska, and Des Moines, Iowa, and that it has been at least 15 years since that area received more than a foot of snow in a single storm. “This is a historic snow,” said Nicolaisen, who is based near Omaha, Nebraska. Many schools and businesses closed Monday as the storm moved across the region. In western Iowa, Missouri Valley Superintendent Brent Hoesing reworked the lyrics of the 1970s hit “I Will Survive” to tell students in his district “So Stay Inside.” Officials urged drivers to stay off the roads during the storm, especially during the heaviest snowfall in the afternoon and evening. Nebraska State Patrol troopers had helped at least 60 drivers who got stuck or slid off the road by midday Monday. “Do not travel unless it’s absolutely necessary,” said Nebraska State Patrol Col. John Bolduc. Roughly 250 semi trucks pulled off the road to wait out the storm at the Petro truck stop alongside Interstate 80 in York, Nebraska. Manager Rachael Adamson said she could see knee-high drifts and that the maintenance man had to go out every 30 minutes to shovel the sidewalks to keep up with the snow. “We haven’t had this much snow in quite a few years,” Adamson said. Elsewhere in the U.S., a storm moving across the Southwest on Monday and Tuesday was forecast to bring gusty winds and snowfall, the weather service said. Over the weekend, more than a foot of snow fell in Southern California’s mountains, making driving conditions hazardous. Interstate 5 was shut down Monday in the Tejon Pass between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. Wind, snow and ice also forced the closure of State Route 58 through the Tehachapi Pass. Until recently, California had been experiencing significantly dry weather accompanied by relentless wildfires. A band of clouds suggested more rain could fall Tuesday in areas north and south of San Francisco Bay, bringing the threat of possible flash floods and landslides in areas scarred by the fires. Across southern Nevada, light rain and snow at higher elevations was reported Monday. Forecasters at the Sacramento-area National Weather Service office predict an abundance of snow in the Sierra Nevada between late Tuesday and Friday that will make travel through the mountains difficult. By Josh Funk, The Associated Press

JACKSON, Tenn. — Charges have been filed against two New York truckers following a Jan. 15 traffic stop in Tennessee after an inspection revealed marijuana and cocaine hidden in a tractor-trailer. On January 15, a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s (THP) Interdiction Plus Unit (IPU) stopped a tractor-trailer for a traffic violation on Interstate 40 at the 101-mile marker in Henderson County. While conducting a Level II commercial motor vehicle safety inspection, the trooper discovered “possible indicators of criminal activity” and requested assistance from additional troopers, according to a statement released by THP. As the troopers proceeded with the inspection, discrepancies and irregularities were discovered with the driver’s shipping manifest. During the inspection, troopers entered the semi’s trailer and examined several pallets of cargo, where they discovered a pallet that was not indicated on the original shipping manifest. The cellophane-wrapped pallet appeared to be professionally packaged with affixed shipping labels. Continuing the inspection, troopers opened 12 undocumented boxes, which were found to contain 383 pounds of vacuumed-sealed marijuana. A smaller box contained 40 pounds of cocaine. Charges have been filed in state court on both the driver, David A. Seville, 25, of Brooklyn, New York, and the co-driver, Michael J. Blake, 57, of Jamaica, New York, for possession of schedule VI (marijuana) with the intent to deliver. A criminal complaint has been filed on both men in federal court for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

LOS ANGELES — The latest in a series of storms left California mountains frosted in snow Monday, Jan. 25, shutting down a major highway due to dangerous conditions. The California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 5 to traffic in Tejon Pass, which rises to an elevation of more than 4,100 feet through mountains between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. Winds, snow and ice also shut down State Route 58 through Tehachapi Pass in eastern Kern County, Caltrans said. An alternate, SR178, was open but chains were required. Storms began arriving in California late last week in a major change of the weather pattern following a fall and early winter of sporadic rain and snow that left overall precipitation below normal. Amid sunshine and clear skies between rain and snow showers, the state remained blanketed in numerous types of storm warnings, with another system described as a moderate atmospheric river expected to arrive on Tuesday and last into Thursday. Flash flood watches were to go into effect for areas north and south of San Francisco Bay, where the National Weather Service cited “high confidence that thresholds for debris flows will be met” in many of last year’s wildfire burn scars.