White House Decides To Outsource NASA Work

By Andy Pasztor

(Wall Street Journal, January 24, 2010) The White House has decided to begin funding private companies to carry NASA astronauts into space, but the proposal faces major political and budget hurdles, according to people familiar with the matter.  The controversial proposal, expected to be included in the Obama administration’s next budget, would open a new chapter in the U.S. space program. The goal is to set up a multiyear, multi-billion-dollar initiative allowing private firms, including some start-ups, to compete to build and operate spacecraft capable of ferrying U.S. astronauts into orbit—and eventually deeper into the solar system.  Congress is likely to challenge the concept’s safety and may balk at shifting dollars from existing National Aeronautics and Space Administration programs already hurting for funding to the new initiative. Read more

President Nominates LEED Expert As Army I&E Assistant Secretary

By White House and ARNEWS

(Army News Service, January 21, 2010) — President Obama Wednesday announced his intentions to nominate Katherine G. Hammack as assistant secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment.  Hammack has more than 25 years of experience as an energy and sustainability professional with private industry. Currently she is a leader in Ernst & Young’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services, an international professional services firm.  The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations & Environment has oversight of the design, construction, operations, maintenance and management of Army installations. It is involved in the privatization of Army family housing, real estate and utilities. Read more

Picture This: NOAA, Google Join Forces To Visualize Scientific Data

(NOAA, January 25, 2010) NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and Google have signed a cooperative research and development agreement outlining how they will work together to create state-of-the-art visualizations of scientific data to illustrate how our planet works. “It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Here, we think NOAA’s billions of bits of data are worth thousands of pictures,” said Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research. “Through this agreement, Google’s technical expertise will help to improve access to NOAA data in ways that allow the scientific community and the public to better use our information to understand earth science and make informed decisions.” Read more

New Energy Economics: N.D. Wind Energy Legislative Proposals Images

By Cole Gustafson

(North Dakota State University, January 29, 2010) Several wind energy bills have been proposed in the 2009 North Dakota Legislature. It is important that existing and potential wind energy owners review the provisions of these bills and convey their thoughts to local legislators. House bill 1406 – Under this bill, the North Dakota Department of Commerce would receive an appropriation of approximately $180,000. The money would fund a full-time employee to market small wind turbines to private landowners. Supporters of this bill feel the decision to invest in wind energy is complicated, so potential investors may not be aware of various tax incentives, zoning regulations and local utility policies regarding the purchase of excess electricity. Read more

Legislators Announce Funding For Wind Project

Written by Holyoke Enterprise

(Holyoke Enterprise, January 27, 2010) U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet and Colorado 4th Congressional Representative Betsy Markey announced a wind-energy project in Phillips County will receive $2.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through a Department of Energy effort to support community-based renewable energy projects. Read more

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Announces Plans For Forum On R&D Commercialization At Universities

(Department of Commerce, January 19, 2009) Washington—U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced today his plans to host a forum with university leaders and key stakeholders on the roles of universities in innovation, economic development, job creation, and commercialization of federally funded research next month in Washington, D.C Read more

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces Millions To Promote U.S. Food And Agricultural Exports

(USDA, January 26, 2010)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the allocation of $234.5 million to 70 U.S. trade organizations to help promote American food and agricultural products overseas. “In today’s highly competitive international markets, we must provide our exporters with the resources they need to compete overseas during the 21st century,” said Vilsack. “When you consider the current global financial crisis, increasing production in key competitor countries and aggressive use of export promotion tools by our competitors, USDA’s market development programs are more important than ever.” Read more

Law To Curb Lobbying Sends It Underground

By David D. Kirkpatrick

(New York Times, January 17, 2010) WASHINGTON — Ellen Miller, co-founder of the Sunlight Foundation, has spent years arguing for rules to force more disclosure of how lobbyists and private interests shape public policy. Until recently, she herself registered as a lobbyist, too, publicly reporting her role in the group’s advocacy of even more reporting. Not anymore.  In light of strict new regulations imposed by Congress over the last two years, Ms. Miller joined a wave of policy advocates who are choosing not to declare themselves as lobbyists.  “I have never spent much time on Capitol Hill,” Ms. Miller said, explaining that she only supervises those who press lawmakers directly. “I am not lobbying, so why fill out the forms?”  Her frankness makes Ms. Miller a standout among hundreds of others who are making the same decision. Read more

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