A plan being developed by the Texas General Land Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would spend as much as $32 billion to protect the Houston-Galveston area from storm surges.
The project would construct the nation’s most ambitious and expensive coastal barrier system. It would consist of 12-foot-high sand dune-topped levees to protect beachfront homes and businesses as well as a storm surge barrier system.
The plan has already gone through revisions to make it more effective and more environmentally friendly. The plan has drawn criticism from the Galveston business community which says a proposed ring levee would hinder cargo and passenger loading at the Port of Galveston. Environmentalists are concerned that a gate system between Galveston and Bolivar to block storm surges would diminish exchange of saltwater and freshwater between Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico that is important to marine life.
The Houston-Galveston region, home to millions of people and the nation’s largest petrochemical complex, is vulnerable to massive storm surges and currently has no comprehensive storm protection system.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Aug 5, 2020
Designing, redeveloping communities for zero energy needed to address climate change
District heating and cooling systems boost efficiency.
Codes and Standards | Aug 4, 2020
Virginia is the first state to adopt COVID-19 worker safety rules
Include social distancing requirements, notifications when co-worker tests positive, timelines to return to work after recovery.
Codes and Standards | Aug 3, 2020
Report aids local governments on policy options, pathways to electrify new buildings
Document focuses on switching appliances and equipment away from natural gas, propane.
Codes and Standards | Jul 30, 2020
Institute for Market Transformation acquires Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition
Goal is to achieve net-zero construction by 2050.
Codes and Standards | Jul 29, 2020
Crackdowns grow on construction firms that fail to follow COVID-19 guidelines
States, cities, and OSHA enforce social distancing, hand-washing regulations.
Codes and Standards | Jul 28, 2020
California utility adopts climate emergency declaration
Sacramento-region company commits to working towards carbon neutrality by 2030.
Codes and Standards | Jul 27, 2020
Updated Energy Plus and OpenStudio building energy modeling tools released
Software offers performance enhancements.
Codes and Standards | Jul 23, 2020
North Carolina will stop relying on FEMA flood mapping
State will identify flood zones on its own.
Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2020
New version of IAPMO’s Water Demand Calculator is available
Enhanced features include selection between single- and multifamily buildings.
Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2020
Mobile app calculates sound transmission for wood-framed assemblies
American Wood Council tool for floor-ceiling assemblies.
