Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/715953
PROBES WINCHES LOGGERS WELLCAD BOREHOLE GEOPHYSICAL EQUIPMENT and SOFTWARE SALES Mount Sopris Instruments is a leading manufacturer of borehole geophysical logging solutions for the GROUNDWATER industry. www.mountsopris.com BOREHOLE GEOPHYSICAL EQUIPMENT and SOFTWARE RENTALS Mount Sopris Instruments offers complete logging systems, training and advanced processing software for the GROUNDWATER industry. www.mountsopris.com/rentals/ Industry NEWSLINE Comprehensive Energy Bill Conference Faces Rocky Road A fter the U.S. House of Representa- tives and Senate each passed comprehensive reforms to energy legislation, the House-proposed confer- ence legislation is giving Senate Demo- crats unease as they prepare to work out differences between the legislation. When the House or Senate cannot agree on a bill, conference committees are appointed by the two chambers, whose duty it is to reconcile the differ- ences between them and present a new compromise version to receive a vote. House Republicans added several controversial provisions to the bill they plan to take to conference that have pre- viously drawn veto threats from Presi- dent Barack Obama—including the America COMPETES bill, which would make cuts to geoscience research at the National Science Foundation. NGWA sent letters to Congress with a coalition in opposition to America COMPETES. Senate Democrats expressed skepti- cism at the provisions added by the House conferees, noting the Senate has taken a much more bipartisan process in passing energy reform. Both chambers have appointed conferees to begin the process of working out differences. However, limited time remains in the 114th Congress with election year poli- tics tightening the legislative calendar. The House and Senate energy bills contain provisions beneficial to geother- mal heat pumps—modifying the defini- tion of "renewable" and promoting energy efficiency. The inclusion of con- troversial components, like America COMPETES legislation, not only raises the likelihood the conference will fail, but adds provisions to the legislation harmful to the geosciences. Construction Job Numbers Show Need to Attract More Workers Construction employment increased in 39 states between June 2015 and June 2016, but half of the states shed con- struction jobs between May and June, according to analysis of Labor Depart- ment data released on July 22 by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials say the flatten- ing of monthly employment gains and losses indicates the urgency of beefing up programs to attract, train, and retain construction workers. "Construction demand is still grow- ing strongly in all regions and among many types of owners," says Ken Si- monson, chief economist for the associ- ation. "But contractors appear to be struggling to fill jobs in the short run." Hawaii added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year (15.9%, adding 6700 jobs), fol- lowed by Iowa (15.8%, adding 12,200 jobs), and Colorado (8.9%, adding 13,200 jobs). California added the most construction jobs (32,300). Between May and June this year— 23 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs, 25 states lost NEWS continues on page 12 waterwelljournal.com 10 September 2016 WWJ