THORNPRODUCTS, LLC IN MELBOURNE BEACH, FL AWARDED $80,000 FOR LOW COST WIRELESS TRANSMISSION METHOD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2012

THORNPRODUCTS, LLC IN MELBOURNE BEACH, FL AWARDED $80,000 FOR LOW COST WIRELESS TRANSMISSION METHOD

Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA -- ThornProducts, LLC in Melbourne Beach, Fla. has been awarded $80,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a low cost wireless transmission method for monitoring electricity usage in receptacles and switches, which will allow users to identify efficiency improvements in their electricity usage.  The SBIR program is part of EPA’s Technology Innovation for Environmental and Economic Progress: An EPA Roadmap, which focuses on linking research and development, policy and finance.

EPA’s SBIR program supports small businesses’ development of new technologies addressing key environmental areas. The technological concepts submitted to this year’s competition include drinking water monitoring and treatment, sustainable infrastructures, green building, innovation in manufacturing, greenhouse gas reduction, air pollution monitoring and control and waste monitoring and management.

Nationally, SBIR awarded $2 million in contracts to 25 companies to compose Phase I of this year’s annual competition. The winners will compete for Phase II funding to commercialize their technologies, helping to protect Americans’ health and the environment. To be eligible to participate in the SBIR program, a company must be an organized, for-profit U.S. business and have fewer than 500 employees. Phase I awards may be up to $80,000, and Phase II awards may be up to $300,000.

More information on the winners:  http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/12awards

More information on the Technology Innovation Roadmap:  http://www.epa.gov/envirofinance/innovation.html

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Drinking Water Grant to Plattsburg, MO

News release from EPA, Region 7:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

$364,000 Grant to Plattsburg, Mo., for Drinking Water Improvements

Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov (news media only)

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Feb. 9, 2012) - EPA has awarded $364,000 to Plattsburg, Mo., for improvements to its drinking water system. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2013.

EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks said, “The City of Plattsburg recognized the need for drinking water improvements and is taking proactive measures to provide safe drinking water now and in the future. This grant will partially fund the construction project which is estimated to cost $661,800.”

The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the current water transmission main which conveys water from the water treatment plant to the distribution system. The construction will include approximately 9,200 feet of 16-inch iron pipe, water valves and fire hydrants. This will reduce numerous leaks that have recently occurred. Such leaks can cause low water pressure and introduce contaminants to the water.

EPA oversees the protection of water quality and public health. The Safe Drinking Water Act protects human health by regulating the nation’s public drinking water supply. The responsibility for ensuring safe drinking water is shared by EPA, states, tribes, water systems, and the public.

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