Weekly Briefing: April 3, 2026
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Week of March 30, 2026
Maine Moves to Ban New Data Centers, an Early Sign of Broader Resistance
Maine is on track to become the first state to pause large new data center construction, with legislation that would halt projects of 20 megawatts or more until November 2027 while officials evaluate impacts on the electric grid, the environment, and consumer power costs.
The proposal is likely to advance, having already passed the Democratic-controlled Maine House with support from a handful of Republicans. It is also expected to move through the Senate, with Gov. Janet Mills backing the temporary freeze as long as it includes an exception for the planned project set to begin construction in July because of the jobs, economic activity, and tax revenue it is expected to bring.
At the core of the debate are concerns over power demand, rising electricity costs, and project uncertainty, particularly in a state that already faces high residential rates and where local resistance has stalled several proposed facilities.
Maine appears to be an early example of this broader trend. Similar resistance is emerging across the country, with at least 10 other states considering similar policies and measures already introduced in New York, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, underscoring growing challenges around data center siting, permitting, grid capacity, and local opposition.
Construction Hiring Cools as Labor Turnover Hits a Record Low
February saw construction labor turnover fall to its lowest level since 2000, when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics started collecting this data, as weaker hiring activity combined with fewer layoffs and employees quitting pointed to a more cautious labor market.
Hiring activity slowed sharply, with the construction hiring rate falling to 3.3% in February from 4.4% in January and 4.2% a year earlier. Construction job openings totaled 202,000 at month-end, down 28,000 from January and 53,000 from the same time last year.
The data suggests contractors are keeping existing workers in place while pulling back on headcount growth, indicating a more conservative approach as labor market conditions cool in construction and the broader economy.
The February figures may offer only a partial picture, as broader geopolitical and energy market pressures continue to build.
March 30, 2026
SuYash Consulting (SuYash), a Maryland-based engineering services firm specializing in water resources, stormwater management, and regulatory compliance, has acquired Transtech Engineering Consultants (Transtech), a Maryland-based multidisciplinary engineering firm specializing in civil engineering. This acquisition will improve SuYash’s regional presence while adding key technical expertise. Rahul Kesarkar, Principal at SuYash, commented, “This acquisition represents an important milestone for us as we continue to expand our service offerings and deepen our engineering expertise. Transtech's design services business brings strong technical capabilities and a talented team that aligns well with our vision for growth.”
March 31, 2026
4CE Engineering Group (4CE), a South Carolina-based engineering growth platform built to partner with civil infrastructure firms, backed by Quad-C Management, has entered a strategic partnership with ELEMENT Engineering Group (ELEMENT), a Florida-based engineering firm providing infrastructure, transportation, utilities, and surveying services. This is the first partnership for the 4CE platform, and ELEMENT will play a key role as 4CE continues to expand its platform. Derek Gil, Founder and President of ELEMENT, said, “Over the past two decades, our team has built a business we are incredibly proud of. Partnering with 4CE allows us to accelerate that growth, expand our capabilities, and continue building the business in a way that creates opportunity for our people and delivers even greater value to our clients.”
April 1, 2026
IMEG, an Illinois-based engineering and consulting firm that provides geotechnical, environmental consulting, construction materials testing, and building compliance services, has acquired The JW Group, a Pennsylvania-based aviation consulting and design firm serving airport clients. This acquisition will add key technical expertise to IMEG, enabling the firm to serve more aviation clients across the nation. “The addition of The JW Group reflects our shared commitment to innovation in complex aviation environments,” said Paul VanDuyne, President and CEO of IMEG. “By bringing The JW Group into IMEG, we are uniting complementary strengths to better serve the evolving needs of the aviation industry. Together, we are expanding our technical depth and enhancing our ability to support airport clients with comprehensive, integrated solutions backed by IMEG’s broader multidisciplinary expertise.”
April 1, 2026
Savills, a United Kingdom-based real estate advisor, has acquired MEIT Consultants, a United Kingdom-based building services firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering for the data center market. This acquisition will complement Savills’ existing data center services with more technical expertise, allowing the firm to better capitalize on the growth in the sector. Jarrod Griffiths, head of M&E Consultancy at Savills, said, “The acquisition of MEIT Consultants provides us with a springboard to accelerate the growth of our M&E Consultancy practice, with a particular focus on growing our offer across data centre design, and we are looking forward to collaboratively exploring the opportunities that this presents.”
April 1, 2026
Davis, Bowen & Friedel (DBF), a Maryland-based architecture, engineering, planning, and surveying firm, has acquired Davis, Moore, Shearon & Associates, a Maryland-based civil engineering firm specializing in land development. This acquisition adds regional and technical expertise to DBF as they continue to grow throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Ring W. Lardner, President of DBF, commented, “This acquisition strengthens our commitment to serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore with experienced professionals who understand the region, its communities, and its development needs.”
This spring, LaBella is reflecting on the collective impact of LaBella in the Community (LINC) through its Winter Roundup. As its employee-led, grassroots, committee-based service program, LINC creates volunteer opportunities and strengthens community partnerships. Throughout the winter, LaBella team members organized and participated in activities across their local communities. These efforts included Adopt-a-Family programs, holiday gift donations, volunteering to decorate the hospital and support families over the holidays, the Rochester Polar Plunge, creating Valentine’s Day cards for pediatric patients, and sponsoring Buffalo’s National Engineers Week event at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
The EFCG Weekly Briefing summarizes the week’s key news in the AEC industry, including M&A updates, and micro- and macro-trends, aggregated from industry-focused and global news sources.
To send any additional press releases or news from your firm that you would like us to share please email Clay Han at chan@efcg.com.