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EPA awards Reno firm $70,000 to develop innovative air pollution technology

Release Date: 3/15/2005
Contact Information: Laura Gentile ([email protected]) - 415/947-4227 (desk) or 415/760-9161 (cell)

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently gave a $70,000 grant to Baldwin Environmental, Inc. of Reno, Nev. to develop better technology to detect air pollution.

The EPA chose Baldwin, a manufacturer of monitoring equipment for industrial applications on 895 Patriot St., from a pool of 363 applicants nationwide to receive the funding under the agency's Small Business Innovation Research contracts program. The EPA awarded 34 grants totalling $2.6 million to small businesses across the country.

Baldwin will use the funding to develop a new monitor to measure particulate matter -- dust -- emitted from combustion facilities, such as refineries, incinerators and cement plants. Current technologies are unable to accurately measure particulate matter in emissions generated during combustion. Particulate matter affects the respiratory system and can cause damage to lung tissue and premature death. The elderly, children and people with chronic lung disease, influenza, or asthma are especially sensitive to high levels of particulate matter.

The EPA's Small Business Innovation Research program offers financial support to businesses with fewer than 500 employees to develop the best new innovative technologies related to environmental protection, including clean air and water, hazardous and solid waste, pollution prevention, remediation and monitoring. For more information on the program go to: www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir.