Biden reveals his plans for U.S. infrastructure

By |  July 15, 2020
With five of the nation’s 13 most populous cities residing in Texas, demand for construction materials in the Lone Star State is, not surprisingly, very high. Photo: Art Wager/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

The American Society of Civil Engineers gives U.S. infrastructure a D+ grade. Photo: Art Wager/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden unveiled his plan to address energy and infrastructure if elected president this November, aiming for a $2 trillion investment that would be deployed over his first term.

The key elements of the Democratic presidential candidate’s plan to “build a modern, sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future” include:

1. Building a modern infrastructure
2. Positioning the U.S. auto industry to win the 21st century with technology invented in America
3. Achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035
4. Making dramatic investments in energy efficiency in buildings, including completing 4 million retrofits and building 1.5 million new affordable homes
5. Pursuing a historic investment in clean energy innovation
6. Advancing sustainable agriculture and conservation
7. Secure environmental justice and equitable economy opportunity

Biden targets a number of areas in point No. 1, including roads and bridges, railroads, transit, water and broadband. Biden does not detail how much of the $2 trillion would be dedicated to transforming roads and bridges, but he makes clear in his plan that he’s about cleaner solutions.

Sound bites

Biden zeroed in on roads and bridges during a July 14 speech articulating his plan in Wilmington, Delaware.

“One in five miles of our highways are still in ‘poor condition’ according to American engineers,” Biden says. “Tens of thousands of bridges are in disrepair – some on the verge of collapse – presenting a clear and present danger to people’s lives.”

Biden went on, arguing that President Trump has not delivered the infrastructure package that he ran on four years ago.

“Donald Trump promised a big infrastructure bill when he ran in 2016,” Biden says. “He promised it again in 2017, and then in 2018 and again in 2019. Now, he’s promising one again.

“He’s never delivered,” Biden adds. “He’s never really even tried.”

Trump went after Biden on infrastructure in remarks July 14 in the White House Rose Garden.

“Biden was here (Washington) for 47 years,” Trump says. “Eight years – the last eight years, not long ago – as vice president, he said: ‘One in five miles of our highways are still in poor condition.’ Well, we’re doing a good job in highways, but why didn’t he fix them three years ago?  Why didn’t he fix them?”

Kevin Yanik

About the Author:

Kevin Yanik is editor-in-chief of Pit & Quarry. He can be reached at 216-706-3724 or kyanik@northcoastmedia.net.

Comments are closed