ABC quantifies states’ fidelity to merit shop principles

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Associated Builders and Contractors’ new “Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard” reviews and grades state-specific information significant to the success of commercial and industrial construction stakeholders. The meritshopscorecard.org site identifies states that have created an environment where merit shop contractors are well positioned plus those where strategic improvements need to be made in order to create a friendly business climate.

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Paris Climate Conference elicits cement leaders’ mammoth emissions reduction plan

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Backed by 16 major producers—nine with significant North American market stakes—the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi) outlined a Cement Action Plan aimed at reducing worldwide industry carbon emissions 20-25 percent by 2030. The announcement was made last month in Paris during the United Nations Climate Conference. Also known as (Conference of Parties) COP21, the event was staged with the aim of securing commitments from nearly 200 countries, whereby carbon dioxide emissions are cut to levels at which global temperatures climb no more than 2°C by 2100—a benchmark below the levels embodied in conference participants’ pledged plans.

 
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Council outlines green building square footage goals in the billions

With a United Nations Climate Change Conference/Buildings Day backdrop, the U.S. Green Building Council committed to scaling green buildings to more than 5 billion square feet over the next five years through the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) green building rating systems.

 
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FAST highway bill tempers FMCSA regulatory burdens for mixer drivers

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The FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act signed into law late last year contains language for which the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association lobbied on behalf of ready mixed concrete producers. Government Affairs staff helped secure within the five-year funding program three important provisions tied to Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours of Service (HOS) regulations:

 
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Road Builders: FAST stabilizes highway funding, bumps DOT purchasing power

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An American Road & Transportation Builders Association analysis of the five-year, $305 billion Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) signed into last month finds: “While the total core highway investment increase during the [five-year] life of the bill will be just over 15 percent, yearly assessments are a better gauge of market impact. Highway investment will jump 5.1 percent in FY 2016 and then slow to rates of growth between 2.1 percent and 2.4 percent for [FY 2017–2020]. Investment levels will exceed projected inflation by a total of $1.7 billion over five years and beat projected construction material cost increases by $1 billion over the same period. As a result, federal highway investment will see narrow increases in purchasing power through 2020, but the FAST Act’s biggest impact on the highway construction market will be the stability it provides states and the private sector.”

 
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U.S. Concrete joins S&P SmallCap index, names energy-seasoned CFO

Sources: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, New York; U.S. Concrete Inc., Euless, Texas; CP staff

The financial services entity behind the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average indices has added ready mixed and aggregate producer U.S. Concrete to the S&P SmallCap 600, which tracks liquid, financially viable U.S. equities with market capitalization of $60 million to $4.5 billion.

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Eagle Materials/American Gypsum chief Powers to succeed CEO Rowley

Sources: Eagle Materials Inc., Dallas; CP staff

Eagle Materials has announced the retirement of President and CEO Steve Rowley effective March 31. The cement, aggregate, ready mixed concrete and wallboard producer notes that his decision, stemming from post-surgery health matters, brings “to a close a remarkable career of 25 years of continuous service to the company and its stockholders.”

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