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Print Edition StoriesWednesday, May 26, 2010
Policy Tracker
Maine enacts energy bills; NIH awards $1B to research labs; TSA deploys imaging units
MHT's Julie Donnelly: FloDesign Wind Turbine grows in Mass.
MHT's Galen Moore: Boston high on cybercrime list
MHT's Doug Banks: Frugal startups get creative with office space
Maine enacts energy bills
Maine Gov. John E. Baldacci recently signed five bills designed to help the state produce clean energy and manage energy.
“Together, we are pursuing clean, renewable, home-grown energy that will enable us to kick the oil habit,” said Baldacci.
The five bills address issues including the designation of energy corridors, which are preferred areas for energy transmission; definition of how use of smart grid technology should ensure that Maine rate payers share in the benefits of the smart grid; help for property owners dealing with the cost of energy efficiency improvements; requirements that wind project developers demonstrate benefits to their host communities; and implementation of the recommendations by the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task Force, including a goal of 5 gigawatts of energy generated from facilities located in coastal waters by 2030.
— MHT staff
NIH awards $1B to improve research labs
The National Institutes of Health awarded $1 billion in grants to build and renovate scientific laboratories across the country.
The 146 grants, which were funded by the economic stimulus bill, went to institutions in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. “These Recovery Act dollars will provide state-of-the-art facilities for hundreds of researchers to conduct cutting-edge science with the latest technologies,” said NIH Director Francis Collins.
TSA deploy more imaging units
The Transportation Security Administration will use economic stimulus funds to deploy advanced imaging technology units at 28 additional airports this summer.
The units are used to screen passengers for weapons, explosives and other objects concealed under layers of clothing. The officer viewing the image does not come into contact with the passengers being screened. Images are deleted after they are viewed.
The TSA has so far purchased 450 advanced imaging technology units with economic stimulus funds and deployed 58 of them at 24 airports. The legislation provided $266 million for checkpoint explosives detection technologies and another $734 million for screening checked baggage.
— Kent Hoover, ACBJ News Service
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