What civil engineers are reading this week

• Biden administration announces $409M for transportation projects in 39 states

  The grant money will go to 70 projects in an effort to modernize and electrify America’s buses and improve their safety, the Department of Transportation says.

• Gravity could solve renewable energy's biggest problem

  Gravity-based technology can store wind and solar power longer than batteries.

• Solar growth, new installations slowing in the face of 18% price increases, report says

  Utility scale solar has so far borne the brunt of the impact of growing supply chain constraints and uncertainty, which are expected to reduce solar installations in 2022, according to a new report.

• US infrastructure diversity plan draws fire from contractors, minority groups

  Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg signed a memorandum to bring more underrepresented workers on to federal contracts using project labor agreements.

• Here's how to build your own miniature hydroelectric dam

  This miniature hydroelectric dam actually works.

• Infrastructure team outlines efforts to deploy funds

  The White House team leading the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act outlined its efforts to work through state and local governments to help them access $1.2 trillion in federal funds.