Powering an Energy Revolution

摘要

For the first time in 40 years, the United States has achieved relative energy independence. Emerging and evolving energy development in the United States has become a bright spot in the national economy and has created opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labor. While energy independence is good news, the expansion of these industries has implications for transportation infrastructure. For example, geographic shifts in oil and gas extraction have led to greatly expanded transport of oil by truck and rail. In many cases, expansion involves movement of heavy equipment and other supplies to rural locations and puts pressure on a functional class of roads and bridges that were not constructed to handle the heavy loads associated with expansion and increased traffic.