Harnessing the wind to create usable energy has been a growing industry in recent years, and BP Wind Energy plans to expand its operations by building a new wind turbine farm in Wyoming County, Pa., with the help of Sempra U.S. Gas and Power. Marketwatch reported that early in July, BP was planning to invest $8 billion globally in the next 10 years to developing alternative energy resources, but will likely reach this goal by the end of the year. BP has already invested $4 billion in the U.S., and another $3 billion around the world.

By next year, Mobile County, Ala., is expecting to complete a number of construction projects that will improve and add to the region's public school system. The Mobile Press-Register reports several new schools are being built this year and other buildings are receiving major renovations. Overall, the projects will cost roughly $100 million.

Construction on the $368 million L'Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, La., may take a bit longer than expected. Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. recently approached the state's Gambling Control Board for a one-month extension on the project, according to local news network WBRZ.

Although unemployment in the construction industry is still high, the mortgage financing company Freddie Mac believes the number of available jobs will begin to rise by the end of the year, reports the International Business Times. Growth in the housing industry will play a major role in bringing construction crews back to work, the company projects.

Construction is set to being on the new McClaren-Flint Hospitality House in Flint Township, Mich., which will work in tandem with the soon-to-be-completed Proton Therapy Center next door.

The construction industry is seeing marked annual and month-over-month improvements, according to recent government reporting. The U.S. Commerce Department indicates new home construction across the board jumped up 6.9 percent to an annual rate of 760,000 from 711,000 in May. Bloomberg reports this is the highest number of housing starts since 2008, and is better than economists surveyed by the news source predicted (a rate of 745,000). In fact, the Commerce Department indicates the current rate of improvement could even lead to the industry contributing to national economic growth this year.

This weekend, a three-month construction project is set to begin on the Alexander Hamilton Bridge that crosses the Harlem River between Manhattan and the Bronx. The bridge is a main artery for traffic coming from the Bronx and travelling to the George Washington Bridge (GWB). With at least one of four eastbound lanes closed at all times for the duration of the project, drivers can expect heavy traffic not only on this bridge but on alternate routes as well, according to NY1 News.

IronPlanet offers a wide variety of construction and agricultural equipment in its weekly Featured Auctions, and this can be a great chance for buyers to score deals on the equipment they need. Using IronPlanet is simple, but it is a bit different from bidding in-person. Thus, IronPlanet has made practice auctions available for interested buyers to use before the real bidding begins.

New home construction is a booming business at the moment, and many different industries involved in the process are reaping the benefits. The Washington Post reports there is a growing demand for new houses, which has created many jobs and bolstered local economies. The most recent report from the Commerce Department shows new home development is up nearly 30 percent annually this year over last with an annual rate of more than 700,000 new homes being built.

During the recession, many construction projects across the U.S. were canceled or put on hold, and one in downtown Los Angeles is getting back on track. Construction of a $125 million high-rise apartment building will start in September, according to Wood Partners, the developer in charge of the project. Planning for the 22-story building began back in 2006, but the project was snuffed out when the recession hit in 2008. Now, the Los Angeles Times reports the economic improvements have created a suitable environment for the project to be revived