Boston seeks help to lower small business energy costs

August 26, 2008

Boston officials have put out a "request for responses" from energy brokers or consultants interested in helping small businesses form an energy-buying group to reduce their natural gas and electricity costs. Businesses participating in the energy pool would still pay the same amount for energy delivery, but would get a discount on the energy itself because of the group's ability to negotiate lower prices through a broker. Mayor Thomas M. Menino proposed the pool in June. Copies of the request are available at the Department of Neighborhood Development's bid counter at 26 Court St. Responses are due Sept. 24. (Erin Ailworth)

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance said it has launched a website aimed at helping consumers shop for and buy insurance, including auto, healthcare, and home coverage. The site, www.insuremass.doi.state.ma.us, features guides and tools to help consumers review plans, find licensed agents, and compare some premiums. (Ross Kerber)

American Science and Engineering Inc., a Billerica company focused on X-ray detection technology, said it has received a $22.2 million order from the US government for 22 Z Backscatter Vans, a mobile X-ray screening system. (Chris Reidy)

Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp. are working on revisions to prescribing information for the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri to show that a rare brain infection may occur in patients taking the medicine as a sole therapy. The drug makers are working with the Food and Drug Administration on the new caution to prescribers and patients, the agency said on its website. Cambridge-based Biogen and Irish drug maker Elan reported two cases of the disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, on July 31. The cases, in patients taking Tysabri alone, were the first since the drug was reintroduced in the United States in 2006. (Bloomberg)

Stride Rite Corp., of Lexington, said it has reacquired its rights to the PRO-Keds brand from licensee and hip-hop mogul Damon Dash. Stride Rite added that it will bring the brand back in-house as part of a new strategic direction for the PRO-Keds business. Stride Rite said it will launch the new PRO-Keds men's collection with a suggested retail price range of $50 to $80. The shoes will be available in November, with a wider collection coming next spring, Stride Rite said. Stride Rite is now a unit of Kansas-based Collective Brands Inc. (Chris Reidy)

A Newton real estate investment trust, Senior Housing Properties Trust, said it bought four health and wellness centers operated by Life Time Fitness Inc. for $100 million. It also entered into a long-term lease arrangement with Life Time for the properties, for yearly rent of $9.1 million for all four, plus fixed increases during the lease term, ending in 2028. The properties are in Illinois, Texas, Georgia, and Nebraska. (AP)

Americans enjoyed higher average income in 2006 for the first time since 2000, when the last economic expansion ended, the latest tax data show. Adjusted gross income reported on tax returns averaged $58,029. In 2006 dollars that was an increase of $739, or 1.2 percent, from the $57,289 average in 2000, analysis of IRS data showed. Total income increased by $619.2 billion, or 8.3 percent, all of which went to those making more than $75,000, and 42 percent of which went to the roughly one in 400 taxpayers who made more than $1 million in 2006. (New York Times News Service)

Electronic Arts Inc., the second-largest video game publisher, signed a confidentiality agreement with Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., opening the way for talks about a possible acquisition. The accord prohibits both companies from disclosing details of any discussions unless they are terminated, Electronic Arts said in a regulatory filing. Take-Two, publisher of the best-selling Grand Theft Auto video games, offered to give a financial presentation to Electronic Arts as long as a confidentiality agreement was signed, according to letters made public last week. Electronic Arts agreed to the review after dropping its $25.74-a-share hostile bid for Take-Two, valued at $2 billion. (Bloomberg)