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In an 18-4 vote, the Senate Energy Committee approved the Energy Policy Modernization Act after three long days of debate this week. Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) worked for months to achieve bipartisan agreement on underlying measures that included national security, production and efficiency.

Thirty-one attorneys general from states nationwide have united in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). They are seeking a delay in the implementation of the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” final rule published on June 29. The rule would significantly increase the permitting requirements, and associated costs, for property owners and developers without necessarily resulting in improved water quality.

Calling President Obama’s signature climate change policy both “historic” and “critically needed,” the solar industry issued its strong support for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, scheduled to be released on Monday, urging states to consider solar as a clean, affordable, reliable and carbon-free solution

Today The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) announced plans to release a draft of the first thermal efficiency test method designed specifically for commercial-sized boilers that utilize solid biomass as a fuel stock (including pellets, chips, briquettes, and cordwood). The project responds to concerns that a lack of reasonable testing standards for biomass systems can make it difficult for specifiers to provide the owner of a biomass system with a clear distinction between the performance of high-efficiency, low-emission equipment and less satisfactory performers

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved two bills that include provisions to advance energy efficiency in the U.S. Most unfortunately and curiously, one of the bills reported also includes an untenable provision that unduly hampers energy efficiency gains by delaying the establishment of new efficiency standards for furnaces.

AGC will be hosting its first ever Utility Infrastructure Conference (link is external), Sept. 29–Oct. 1 in Louisville, Kentucky. Join other contractors, owners and key industry constituents involved in every aspect of utility infrastructure construction for high-quality education sessions, the premier utility construction equipment expo, and networking opportunities

After two years of negotiations, residential green building standards are taking the next step forward. Specifically, the leading building code organizations have partnered to develop a singular green building code. This code combines elements from their various codes and standards – providing jurisdictions with a comprehensive set of green principles for legislative and regulatory approval.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately withdraw final regulations that would dramatically expand the definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. This renewed call is based on new evidence that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers believes EPA used flawed technical and scientific analysis in crafting the regulation that was so indefensible that the Corps demanded that it be distanced from the rule

The National Association of Home Builders presented the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock (HBA-GLR) with the award: Best Membership Recruitment/Retention Plan. NAHB presented this honor at the Association of Excellence Awards Ceremony in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global research and education institute dedicated to leadership in land use, is launching a new initiative to help four U.S. cities – Charlotte, N.C.; Detroit, Philadelphia and San Jose, Calif. – better understand what people value in their communities in order to build more livable, successful cities. The initiative will connect the national results of ULI’s biannual survey of consumers regarding housing, transportation and communities to local data and regional trends for each of the cities to help them plan for the future.

EAH Housing and Community Solutions are working together to change the lives of formerly homeless residents at Bella Terra apartments. "It's a big difference from then to now. It's like going from nothing to making your life better and that's all I've been doing. Living here is a whole big change, I feel free," said William Miller, 58, who spent more than a decade living homeless.

Davis Foley has been appointed as the Information Technology (IT) Help Desk Coordinator/Systems Administrator at the nonprofit Peoples’ Self-Help Housing for its operations in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, PSHH President/CEO John Fowler has announced. PSHH is an affordable housing and services provider headquartered in San Luis Obispo

American wind power can help states affordably and reliably comply with the pending Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution from power plants, with independent studies confirming wind will play the largest role in the lowest-cost compliance mix.

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is pleased to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In the more than two decades since the landmark legislation was signed into law, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability and guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities, BOMA International has continued to serve as an industry leader in supporting the efforts of building owners and managers to improve the accessibility of commercial properties.

Mortgage applications increased 0.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 24, 2015

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on July 23 recommending that HUD and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) jointly oversee the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The recommendation came as GAO criticized the IRS’ lack of oversight of the program. This includes the fact that the IRS has only conducted seven audits of the 56 state housing finances agencies that administer the program.

After five consecutive months of increases, pending home sales slipped in June but remained near May's level, which was the highest in over nine years, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Modest gains in the Northeast and West were offset by larger declines in the Midwest and South.

Last week, Governor Baker signed the FY2016 State Budget(link is external). He also issued vetoes(link is external) affecting important affordable housing, community development, and homelessness prevention programs.

Existing-home sales increased in June to their highest pace in over eight years, while the cumulative effect of rising demand and limited supply helped push the national median sales price to an all-time high, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions experienced sales gains in June and have now risen above year-over-year levels for six consecutive months.