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EPA Rolls Back Air Emission Exemptions for Industry
A U.S Environmental Protection Agency regulation would roll back exemptions that 36 states have offered—some for years—to industrial facilities, allowing them to exceed without penalties or fines emission limits during startup, shutdown and malfunction periods.
Falling Steel Prices Weighed on May Construction Costs, IHS Says
Construction costs fell in May, according to IHS and the Procurement Executives Group (PEG).
GM Plans $1.2 billion Investment at Indiana Truck Plant
General Motors (GM) plans to invest $1.2 billion in new technology for a plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., which produces full-sized pick-up trucks.
Proposed ASTM Standard for Additive Manufacturing
An ASTM international standard for guidelines on evaluating mechanical properties for additively manufactured materials is under development.
Researchers Develop Lower-Cost Chemical Catalysts
Yale University researchers have developed palladium-based catalysts, which may provide a less expensive and more sustainable alternative for producing industrial chemicals.
Semiconductor Chip Made from Wood-Derived Material
Chinese and U.S. researchers from the Department of Agriculture and University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison has developed a semiconductor chip that is made almost entirely out of wood-derived material.
Study Shows Microbes Could Help Remove Contaminants from Water
Researchers have found a way to remove organic pollutants from water using microbes.
The Slow Emergence of Mechatronics as an Engineering Discipline
Used in everything from anti-lock brakes and smart phones to robotic systems and biomedical devices, the field of mechatronics is gaining a foothold in engineering.
304 MW of Utility-Scale Solar Added in Q1'15
With 304 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity added to the grid from 38 solar farms, the first quarter of 2015 had the least amount of utility-scale solar capacity completed since the third quarter of 2012, when 251 MW was installed, according to SNL Financial.
European Countries Partner for UAV Development
An alliance has been formed in Europe in an effort to reduce dependency on the U.S. and Israel for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
Russia Approves 802.11ac, ad Standards
The Russian Ministry of Communications and Mass Media has adopted a regulation on the use of wireless equipment on the band 30 MHz to 66 MHz.
Electric or Pneumatic Actuators? Factors That Could Influence Your Choice
Engineers often grapple with the question of whether electric or pneumatic actuators are the better choice for their applications. The inherent advantages and disadvantages of each option relative to the other are well known.
Researchers Develop Heat-Triggered Self-Destructing Electronic Devices
University of Illinois researchers have developed heat-triggered self-destructing electronic devices, which they say is a step toward reducing electronic waste and boosting sustainability in device manufacturing.
Researchers Use AI Concepts to Enable Robots to Adapt on Their Own
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed algorithms that enable robots to learn motor tasks through trial and error.
Areva to Engineer and Operate Texas Nuclear Waste Facility
Areva Inc. is taking a lead role in designing, constructing and operating a proposed interim storage facility for used nuclear fuel in Texas.
Defects Could Be Used to Improve Lithium-ion Battery Design
Twin boundaries—which are small, symmetrical defects in materials—may present an opportunity to improve lithium-ion batteries, according to researchers at the Michigan Technological University.
533 MW of Wind Power Capacity Installed in Q1
Following the 3,565 megawatts (MW) of wind-generating capacity installed across the U.S. during the fourth quarter of 2014, the first quarter of 2015 saw a drop, with 533 MW installed.
Duke Energy Plans to Build a 650 MW Gas-fired Power Plant
Duke Energy Progress says it will shut down its 376 megawatt (MW) coal-fired Asheville power plant in North Carolina.
How Electric Current Sensor Technology Works
Current sensors measure AC and/or DC current levels. The technology used by the current sensor is important because different sensors can have different characteristics for a variety of applications.
Keeping the World's Maritime Industry Plugged in Via Standards
Ships and offshore drilling units rely on electrical installations, which may be subjected to harsh conditions and environmental or chemical hazards. To continue operating, they must meet stringent standards.