Maine Insights Issue 35

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January 13th, 2013 · Filed under: Business & Innovation, Capitol news, Civil Rights, Community Maine, Economy, Energy Issues, Environment, Issues · 1 Comment

Changes in government control herald new ways forward for the economy

President of the Maine Senate Justin Alfond with Gov. LePage at the podium on the day of the swearing in of the 126th legislature

CHANGING PRACTICES IN GOVERNMENT & BUSINESS —

• Changes in government control herald new ways forward for the economy. What will happen this session in Augusta?

• Majority-led Democratic Legislature says they want to grow the middle class & strengthen economy

• Maine’s new constitutional officers will support the majority of Mainers and oppose many of LePage’s policies

• LePage’s budget proposal shifts costs to people who can least afford it, raises taxes, and could cripple Maine’s economy

• Federal Government rejects part of LePage’s MaineCare reduction plan, saying it’s not legal

• Gov. LePage’s budget curtailment hits the most vulnerable, education, and public safety hard

• Maine moms angry over LePage administration’s BPA recommendation

• Rep. Rotundo honored as Legislator of the Year

Lindsey Glick's first-hand report on working on an organic farm in Maine

• U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree appointed to Appropriations Committee — where government spending is decided

• Rep. Michaud named new ranking member of U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee

• Maine ranks fourth in states were income inequality is increasing the fastest

CREATIVE ECONOMY & COMMUNITIES —

• Life on a Maine organic farm, One Drop, as an apprentice

• India Street in Portland chosen for planning project to support sustainable growth

• Maine same-sex couples get legally married

• Congresswoman Chellie Pingree asks VA for equal treatment for female veterans suffering from sexual disorders

• Casco is Maine’s first town to pass resolution opposing tar-sands oil transportation through state

• Federal $100,000 grant for Portland schools will help expand purchasing of locally produced food

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY—

The first floating offshore wind turbine in the North Sea, built in Norway by Statiol. Now they plan to build them off Boothby and are sharing research with UMaine.

• Total proceeds for Maine from RGGI are over $34 million; for all RGGI states over $1 billion

• Maine’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard — an incentive for alternative energy growth

• Two DOE offshore wind grants of $4 million each for UMaine and Stratoil projects — with additional phases could get $93 million

• New road maps available for ocean wind, tidal- and wave-energy projects


SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH = INVENTIONS & INNOVATION —

• Bigelow Laboratory’s new campus is dedicated – the facility will spur economic growth & innovation

• Brunswick company awarded $150,000 research grant for aquaculture, in December also granted MTI funds close to $250,000

• MTI awards $1,473,925 to 28 Maine companies

• Cap-and-trade policy, RGGI, keeps 12 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere & generates savings

• Construction underway for Portland Technology Park — to help grow the biotech economy

TRANSPORTATION

Sen. Snowe, Gov. Baldacci, and Gov. King were praised by Congresswoman Pingree for their bipartisan efforts that helped secure federal and state funding for the Downeaster. Pingree also voted for the recovery act, with Sen. Snowe and Sen. Collins, which gave funding for the Downeaster. Photo by Ramona du Houx.

• Federal grant for ME Port Authority could lead to cargo services for Portland

• Downeaster comes to Freeport and Brunswick, Maine, reviving passenger rail that stopped in 1960

• Portland City Council supports study for transit link to Lewiston-Auburn

• Rail is better plan than east-west highway project, which was named one of the worst highway ideas

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” — Thomas Jefferson, 1787

Maine Insights is a non-profit 501(c)4 corporation and an associate member of the Maine Press Association. Contributions to help support this publication — dedicated to growing Maine communities — are always needed and very appreciated. Please click here for a PayPal link. We look forward to continuing to serve you as we have for the past seven years! Thank you for your insights and support.

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1 response so far ↓

  • 1 Minwoo Kim // Jan 19, 2013 at 7:59 pm

    Obama’s energy policy is right. Japan’s FiT in July is among the highest in the world. Japan’s FiT is shaking the renewable energy market. New solutions will be showed in Japan. This is it! Floating wind turbine is one of the best solutions for USA and UK. U.K has more install places around its shores than any other in the world. USA has Atlantic Coast. As you know, Every year Some typhoons arrive Japan. The typhoon has strong wind. Floating wind turbines must have constructed to resist typhoons. So they have to reduce vibration to install floating wind turbines on the sea. Because, it makes many kinds of problems! It’s increasing the durability problem of floating wind turbine. Vibration’s caused by wind, waves and external forces. New Floating Body Stabilizer for floating wind turbines has been created in South Korea. The Floating Body Stabilizers generate drag force immediately when floating wind turbines are being rolled, pitched and yawed on the water. Recently, this Floating Body Stabilizers have been used to reduce vibration of floating solar panels in South Korea.

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