WHEREAS, In 1951 the Federal Office of Defense Mobilization requested that aluminum production be increased in the United States for wartime uses; and
     WHEREAS, The Pacific Northwest had an outstanding regional supply of hydropower as a result of the foresight of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Chelan County Public Utility District (CPUD); and
     WHEREAS, The Federal government approved the construction of the first post-World War II smelter on the banks of the Columbia River outside Malaga, Washington, because of the abundance of affordable hydropower and the willingness of BPA and the Chelan PUD to partner with the manufacturer, as well as support from community leaders and the Wenatchee World; and
     WHEREAS, Under the impetus of national defense and consumer demands, the manufacturer pushed to complete construction of the Wenatchee Works Aluminum Smelter in the shortest amount of time possible, installing two and one-half miles of railroad track, more than three miles of surface road and constructing two prebake carbon potlines with an overhead ore conveyor belt, an electrical rectifier station, a rodding room, a pig and ingot casting building, and a carbon plant within 13 months; and
     WHEREAS, For 60 years the smelter has been operated successfully, employing between 400 and 900 people in the Wenatchee Valley throughout its operation; today operating three potlines and directly contributing more than 52 million dollars to Chelan and Douglas counties in payroll and benefits for 460 employees and creating an additional 1,300 indirect jobs; and
     WHEREAS, Throughout the years the Wenatchee Works smelter has continually worked to upgrade safety and environmental systems, to improve air and water quality, reducing its carbon footprint by over 25 percent since the 1990s and setting plant safety records during its 2011 third potline restart; and
     WHEREAS, The smelter operators are committed to being an outstanding community partner through financial and volunteer support of nonprofits, schools, and other community organizations in the Wenatchee Valley, providing more than 125,000 volunteer hours locally and contributing more than 1.4 million dollars in grants and other local giving since 2002; and
     WHEREAS, Along with its sister plant in Ferndale, the Wenatchee Works plant was honored by the state chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as 2011 Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation for its history of community partnerships; and
     WHEREAS, The 460 men and women of the plant work around the clock 365 days a year to consistently produce more than 140,000 metric tons of high-quality, recyclable aluminum ingot that is used in products ranging from aluminum bats and bicycles, to strong and light-weight automotive and airplane parts; and
     WHEREAS, On June 26, 2012, at 10:14 a.m. the Wenatchee Works plant will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its first aluminum ingot poured;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives officially recognize and congratulate the Wenatchee Works plant and its employees for 60 years of community and economic contribution to the Wenatchee Valley and the State of Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be immediately transferred by the Chief Clerk to Wenatchee Works Plant Manager Don Walton; Wenatchee Aluminum Trades Council President Kelley Woodard; and to Cal Fitzsimmons, Editor of the Wenatchee World.