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Published Nationally ®
Western Edition
March 3 2019 Vol. IX • No. 5
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
New Fracking Bill Dismays Industry Experts By Emily Buenzle CEG WEB EDITOR
AED Summit Celebrates 100 Years of Promoting Industry...10
New Mexico’s booming oil and gas industry could soon hit a speed bump if a proposed bill creating a four-year moratorium on any new state permits for hydraulic fracturing permits passes. “All we want is clean air and clean water,” said Samuel Sage, a member of the Navajo Nation’s Counselor Chapter House, who appeared at New Mexico’s state Capitol to support the bill, USA Today reported.
For a state that is reliant on the growing oil and gas industry, Senate Bill 549 seems like a drastic measure, and industry groups, like the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, feel that it could hurt the state’s economy. “As a whole, the legislation would be a disaster for New Mexico,” said Robert McEntyre, a spokesman for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. “It would result in financial ruin. It would devastate economies in the southeast and the northwest.” Brian P. McGuire, president and CEO of Associated Equipment Distributors, took a
more circumspect tone, although he agreed the proposal could harm the economy, and he urged lawmakers to exercise caution. “Efforts to place a moratorium on fracking permits in New Mexico is concerning to the equipment industry,” McGuire said. “Shale energy development has had a substantial impact on equipment dealers and is a key driver of economic growth and job creation. Policymakers must proceed cautiously, as imprudent government action could undermine the viability of this important sector.” see BILL page 30
$288M Convention Center Under Way in Okla. IEDA Gathers in Orlando for Annual Meeting, Vendor Expo...14
World of Asphalt, AGG1 Expo Break Attendance Records...34
Table of Contents............4 Attachment Section ..................................11-13 Trucks & Trailer Section .. ..................................23-26 Recycling Section....35-45 Auction Section.......48-55 Business Calendar ........51 Advertisers Index..........54
Ben Ehrlich of Gooden Group, Oklahoma City photos
By Chuck Harvey CEG CORRESPONDENT
Oklahoma City plans to boost business, commerce and tourism with a spacious new $288 million convention center. Construction began on June 18, 2018, on the building with its 200,000sq.-ft. exhibit hall, 45,000-sq.-ft. meeting area and 30,000-sq.-ft. ballroom. By comparison, Oklahoma City’s existing Cox Convention Center has about 100,000 sq. ft. of space. The new convention center, expected to be finished in 2020, will draw events that bring attendees from around the region and world. It will provide a boost to Oklahoma City’s economy and serve as an ideal host for local events. The new center will replace the aging Cox Center and provide Oklahoma City with the means to compete nationally with a product and facility that will raise the bar for convention centers integrated into urban surroundings. It will consist of approximately 500,000 sq. ft. of gross building area, which includes 275,000 sq. ft. of leasable space divided up into an exhibit hall, meeting space and ballroom. The state-of-the art building will be located east of Scissortail Park along Robinson Boulevard between SW see CENTER page 30
Shown below, Construction began on June 18, 2018, on the new convention center with its 200,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, 45,000-sq.-ft. meeting area and 30,000-sq.-ft. ballroom. The new convention center, expected to be finished in 2020, will draw events that bring attendees from around the region and world.