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Matt Mead on Technology
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Diversify Wyoming economy with petaflop supercomputer
We must continue to look for ways to diversify our economic base. We have made some headway. The NCAR facility in Cheyenne will house a one petaflop supercomputer. A petaflop is equal to one quadrillion computer operations per second. From bytes to
petaflops, we've come a long way in computer technology and, with the supercomputer; Wyoming is in the thick of things. Wyoming's weather, energy availability and affordability, and location make our state a good fit for tech and other businesses.
Source: Wyoming 2012 State of the State Address
, Feb 13, 2012
Expand state teleconferencing & state cloud computing
State government must set an example of leadership and use of Information Technology (IT). We must expand our use of teleconferencing. We must have a single agency in state government that consolidates IT services. Senate File 33 will take us there.
I was pleased to announce last year that, for the first time, we managed, through cloud computing, to get state employees on the same email system. This cloud computing system provides for greater collaboration. Cloud computing makes our email a stronger
tool by providing, for the first time, an easy method for every state employee to email any state employee and for the public to do likewise.
The backbone of IT technology is broadband. When I took office, the state's major broadband provider had only
two towns in Wyoming capable of high speed gigabit broadband. Thanks to a public-private partnership, this company expanded this capability to an additional 18 Wyoming communities.
Source: Wyoming 2012 State of the State Address
, Feb 13, 2012
Additional $52 M in highway funding
I support the additional $52 M in funding for highways and $52 M in funding for local governments (most of which should go to capital construction). That extra money this year will make reasonable progress toward addressing our infrastructure and
local needs. Our interstate highways and railroad network connect us in all directions with other states and others parts of the country and should help make us a business hub. The highways, especially, are important for business, personal, and
tourist travel. I support additional supplemental appropriations this year for highways.
Highway construction needs a reliable source of added funding (on top of those sources that now exist like gas taxes and federal funds). The recommended
$52M in supplemental funding this year makes reasonable progress on highway construction. Those dollars should be used to do what is needed most in 2011.
Source: 2011 Wyoming State of the State Address
, Jan 12, 2011
Recruit mega data centers: we have the weather & the land
I support funding to recruit mega data centers. In Wyoming, we have what those centers need. We have the natural advantages: - we have a favorable weather climate with a low number of required cooling days;
- we can produce abundant, relatively
inexpensive electricity;
- we have relative safety from natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, and
- we have available land.
We also have an established track record with the NCAR supercomputer being built in Cheyenne. I support the allocation
of $14.5 M in general funds for the recruitment of multiple mega data centers. Such centers bring support businesses and other enterprises along with them. They are a business magnet. I supported the bill passed last year that exempted qualifying
computer equipment from sales and use taxes. I thought last year's bill provided an attractive and appropriate incentive for businesses--and I would call for reasonable additions this year, like for computer software, to improve upon it.
Source: 2011 Wyoming State of the State Address
, Jan 12, 2011
Page last updated: Jul 21, 2017