Latest news with #CapitalRegion
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Regional body's bungled handling of contract will cost the taxpayer £5.25m
Regional body's bungled handling of contract will cost the taxpayer £5.25m An independent investigation has been launched how the Cardiff Capital Region handed the process Aberthaw Power Station (Image: John Myers ) Taxpayers will have to pay £5.25m bill after a regional body responsible for handling the Cardiff City Deal bungled the awarding of a demolition contract for Aberthaw power station. The Cardiff Capital Region, a public body which was set up to invest more than £500m in the south Wales as part of the 2016 City Deal, was taken to court over how it awarded a demolition contract for Aberthaw power station, the disused power station it controversially bought from energy giant RWE. The body, which represents 10 councils, lost a high-court legal challenge brought by a losing bidder, Brown and Mason Group, which concluded in February. The former coal-powered station was acquired for £8m by the city region in 2022, with contractors Erith beginning demolition work last year. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Today, the region's chair Mary Ann Brocklesby gave an update to the Senedd, telling the economy committee that a settlement of £5.25m had been agreed. Brown and Mason had previously said they were seeking £10m. "I'm not able to say much more at this point because we are undergoing an independent review which we commissioned as political leaders to set in train precisely at the point that we knew we were going through a legal process," she said. Article continues below Cllr Brocklesby said: "We had to wait until that legal process was over before that independent review could start. "We are awaiting the findings which – subject to legal caveats – we will be making public." Kellie Beirne, chief executive of the south-east Wales c orporate joint committee and Cardiff Capital Region, said: "We're taking this extremely seriously, we recognise the gravity of it and again yes, [it's] something that we don't come and report. "Apologies again for the short notice but we had clearance, we briefed our internal stakeholders and we felt it important to be as transparent as we possibly could by conveying that this morning at this committee." She said a full independent review has been ordered. "When that review concludes and we have findings, we'll be able to be much more open about what happened and take steps to ensure that this can't happen again," she said. Asked whether the court case has impinged on work at the 500-acre site, Cllr Brocklesby insisted: "No, it continues at pace." Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies said: "When you came before this committee in September 2023, Kellie you said that £40m is but a drop in the ocean. "I think the words you used were hundreds of millions of pounds will be required. Obviously, this court case has not helped instil confidence in the private sector in coming on board as partners… so, how are you progressing in that goal?" Cllr Brocklesby replied: "Let's look at the wider ecosystem of CCR: one of the absolute strengths of it is that we have people across the region who are highly valued within their own sectors… who are highly respected not just in Wales but globally." "In terms of the future of Aberthaw, it does actually look very bright and we're not feeling any effects from the impacts of this highly regrettable procurement issue." Article continues below Ms Beirne said Cardiff Capital Region does not have deep enough pockets for what Aberthawr requires following the initial demolition and remediation phase.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UPSCR project set to roll: Chennai firm to draft master plan, cabinet approval soon
The Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region (UPSCR), envisioned as a major driver of regional development and real estate growth, is poised for a formal launch with the state government selecting a Chennai-based firm as the top bidder to prepare its master blueprint. Officials confirmed that the selected firm emerged as the Level-1 bidder among three applicants. Its appointment is expected to be cleared by the state cabinet shortly. According to government sources, a team of 18 experts from the consultancy will be tasked with preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the SCR, a regional planning initiative modelled on the National Capital Region (NCR). The project will integrate six districts, Lucknow, Barabanki, Hardoi, Sitapur, Rae Bareli and Unnao, covering a combined area of 27,826 square kilometres. The SCR is being developed as a balanced urban-rural growth region around Lucknow. According to the 2011 Census, Lucknow district alone has a population of 45.89 lakh over 2,528 sq km. Barabanki, its immediate neighbour, spans 4,402 sq km with a population of 32.60 lakh. To ensure seamless intra-regional mobility, the government plans to introduce a Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) connecting the six districts. The project will mirror the operational Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, which has drastically reduced commute times and eased pressure on roads. Sources said that the proposed plan includes the construction of two 100-km-long ring roads and five elevated corridors aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving regional connectivity. Urban development minister AK Sharma said that the project will move forward shortly, with groundwork for planning and coordination already underway. Officials said the integrated approach of the SCR will open up large-scale investment opportunities across its constituent districts.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Entergy Grid Renewal Projects Full Steam Ahead During National Infrastructure Week
Company plans to invest $37 billion in the electric grid through 2028 May 12-16 marks National Infrastructure Week, but for Entergy employees, it seems like the observance is celebrated daily. Throughout the company's service area, a dizzying number of projects are being planned, designed, approved, built and put into service. These projects will improve resiliency, enhance reliability, supply economic growth and meet increased residential demand for Entergy's 3 million customers. Interested in how the company is investing in serving customers better, both now and for the future? Below are just a few of the many initiatives active right now. Entergy Louisiana is investing more than $400 million over the next four years to upgrade approximately 730 miles of distribution and transmission lines across the state's Capital Region. As part of the project, approximately 20,300 poles will be upgraded to withstand winds of up to 150 mph, helping to ensure the continuity of service in the face of increasingly severe weather events. The initiative will directly benefit the Capital Region's vital industries, as well as small businesses, schools, hospitals and residential customers that rely on affordable and reliable power. With more than $30 billion in industrial projects currently evaluating investment in the region, enhanced grid reliability is a critical factor in supporting continued economic growth. Learn more about future projects in the Louisiana 100 plan. Entergy Texas is roughly 70% complete with construction of the Orange County Advanced Power Station. The plant, designed to generate 1,215 megawatts of power, remains on track to power more than 230,000 homes by June 2026. Bringing this massive project to life requires an impressive inventory of materials: Entergy Texas expects energy demand across residential, commercial and industrial customer bases to increase over the next few years. This growth in energy consumption requires the Entergy Texas power grid to have an additional 1,600 megawatts of generation capacity by 2028, which is approximately 40% of current generation capacity. Learn more about how the company is readying for that growth with its STEP Ahead plan. Entergy New Orleans has announced a $100 million Accelerated Resilience Plan, approved by the New Orleans City Council in October 2024. The plan reflects a commitment to strengthening the grid and creating jobs while driving long-term growth. The first phase of work, to be completed in 2025-2026, will include 65 individual projects, strengthening 3,096 structures and upgrading 63 electric line miles. Company employees are already working closely with local partners to help transform the city's economic landscape in other positive ways: CSX's property in New Orleans East Entergy Arkansas continues its plans to invest millions of dollars into grid upgrades and one example is the recently completed significant reliability upgrades in the Harrisburg community aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure, increasing resilience and reducing the risk of power interruptions. The year-long project, which includes more than two miles of new distribution lines and enhancing substation equipment, is expected to bring improved stability to the area, providing farmers and residents with the reliable power needed to operate essential irrigation systems during the hot summer months. These upgrades represent a proactive investment in the community's future, helping farmers, residents and local businesses thrive with expanded electrical stability. In total for this project, Entergy Arkansas has invested more than $12 million in new upgrades and has rebuilt more than a mile of existing distribution lines allowing the company to support increased load demands and provide consistent power delivery, even during high-demand periods. For more on long-term plans: At Entergy Mississippi, construction is underway at the Delta Blues Advanced Power Station in Greenville. By replacing end-of-life gas generation with more clean and efficient generation, the company is ensuring customers continue to have modern, reliable energy well into the future. Delta Blues Advanced Power Station will be a 754-megawatt facility capable of powering 385,000 homes across Entergy Mississippi's 45-county service area. The $1.2 billion investment represents a significant economic impact for the Mississippi Delta, including more than 300 construction jobs in the area over the next several years and additional tax revenue for Washington County. Entergy will employ about 21 full-time personnel to operate the plant when it comes online. When fully operational, the plant will provide the state a newer, cleaner and more attractive power source to highlight when recruiting new industry and jobs to Mississippi. For more on long-term plans: The Entergy Nuclear River Bend Station in St. Francisville, La., has recently modernized the local emergency notification process, transitioning to a nationally approved system that continues to alert local broadcast and news outlets about severe weather, while putting information directly in the hands of residents. Similar to how people now get storm warnings through their electronic and mobile devices, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System is now set to give local residents more information in a timelier manner should an emergency occur. IPAWS works by sending local emergency messages to the public to customer's mobile phones using wireless emergency alerts, to radio and television via the Emergency Alert System and also on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's, or NOAA, weather radio. The Federal Emergency Management Agency developed IPAWS over a decade ago is currently being used by major nuclear plants across the nation. These investments, and many more like them, are part of an aggressive plan to invest $37 billion in the grid through 2028. For details, check out Entergy's most recent performance report. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Entergy Corporation
