Technology Levels Playing Field in Race to Market Electric Car

By Norihiko Shirouzu

(Wall Street Journal, January 12, 2009) Shenzhen, China — It would seem like a lousy time to get into the car business, especially if you’re a little-known company in the developing world. No start-up has grown into a major auto maker in at least half a century. Wang Chuanfu, the founder and chairman of BYD Co., a Chinese battery and car maker, thinks he’s got a shot. Read more

Pfizer to Cut Researchers as It Hones Its Focus

By Duff Wilson

(New York Times, January 14, 2009) The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is cutting up to 800 research jobs this year, the company said on Tuesday, pruning positions not involved in the six disease areas that are its current focus. The company is intent on cutting costs and finding new drugs as its biggest seller, the cholesterol treatment Lipitor, is heading toward the expiration of its patent in 2011. Read more

The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009

THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009

Excerpts of Titles III, IV and V  

TITLE III—COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND SCIENCE 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientific and Technical Research and Services   Recovery funding: $100 million Read more

Preliminary Draft of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

111TH Congress, U.S.  House of Representatives

The economy is in a crisis not seen since the Great Depression. Credit is frozen, consumer purchasing power is in decline, in the last four months the country has lost 2 million jobs and we are expected to lose another 3 to 5 million in the next year. Conservative economist Mark Zandi was blunt: “the economy is shutting down.” Read more

Congress Questions Chu, Jackson: Senate committees hear from nominees for Energy, EPA

By Jeff Johnson and Cheryl Hogue

(Chemical & Engineering News, January 19, 2009) EVEN BEFORE Barack Obama has been sworn in as the 44th U.S. President, his nominees to head the Department of Energy and EPA have come before separate Senate committees in the first step toward their confirmation.

Last week’s hearings offered senators an opportunity to ask questions of the nominees and get a head start on approving them, noted Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), chairman of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Read more

Senator Domenici’s Exit Interview

One of Washington’s most powerful legislators is retiring after 36 years in the Senate

By Tom Michael

(Innovation December 08/January 09) Pete V. Domenici retires in January after 36 years of service in the U.S. Senate. During his career, the New Mexico Republican was heavily influential on budget and energy matters. He also forged a reputation as a moderate dealmaker who understood the importance of science and the role that the national laboratories should play in building America’s future. He has been one of the most vocal proponents of technology transfer and recently pushed the landmark Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. Tom Michael, Innovation’s Washington bureau chief, spoke with Domenici recently about his Senate career, some of his key initiatives and his view of the country’s economic plight. Read more

Obama and Federal Sales

Newsletter from Fedmarket.com

Your crystal ball is as good as mine. Mine says the following will happen to federal contracting under the new Obama administration.

War spending will go down, slightly impacting DOD contractors negatively.

Bailout spending will go way up, impacting federal contractors in general and engineering, financial, and consulting companies in particular. Spending on engineering and construction will sky rocket at the state and local level. Read more

DOE Announces Funding Opportunity of up to $6 Million for Addressing 20% Wind Energy by 2030

January 12, 2009–The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the issuance of a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $6 million over two years (FY09-FY10), subject to annual appropriations, to address wind development technical challenges and market acceptance barriers as outlined in the “20% Wind Energy by 2030″ report. The announcement will address six topic areas: (1) turbine research, development and testing; (2) distributed wind technologies; (3) market acceptance efforts; (4) environmental research and sitting strategies; (5) transmission analysis, planning and assessments; and (6) workforce development. Read more

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