FINAL BILL REPORT

HJM 4000

BYRepresentatives Nelson, Hankins, Rust, Fuhrman, Jesernig, Schoon, Miller and Gallagher

Memorializing Hanford as a national energy center.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

AS PASSED LEGISLATURE

BACKGROUND:

There is a pressing national need for additional energy research and development.  Hanford and the Tri-City Community are exceptionally well suited to take on additional energy research and development.

The national need is exemplified by the emerging awareness of damage to the biosphere from energy production and consumption.  There is also increasing concern about over-reliance on imported oil and unnecessarily high energy costs which adversely affect economic stability.

Over four decades of major defense, nuclear, and other highly technical activities have built a tremendous reservoir of scientific and technical talent in a wide variety of disciplines in the Tri-City Community.  The Hanford Reservation is exceptionally well suited for further research and development work in a variety of energy technologies because of the ready availability of land and its geographic and topographic features.

The declining federal defense activity at Hanford has caused substantial hardship for the residents of that community.  There is a danger that the technical and scientific talent that has developed in the Tri-Cities will be lost if new opportunities for employment are not developed.

SUMMARY:

The President and Congress are asked to establish the Hanford National Energy Center on the Hanford Reservation.  Further, they are asked that this center be given first consideration as a possible site for the location of energy research, development, and production facilities of all types, as may be anticipated or planned by the federal government and states.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 94   0

      Senate    46     0