Pacific Northwest Labs Receives Stimulus Package Funding

Richland – The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science will send $124 million in stimulus package funding to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for capital investments and upgrades.

Specifically, PNNL will receive $124 million for capital upgrades and instrumentation for the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility, and for energy conservation projects on the PNNL campus in Richland.

The Office of Science funding will be used as follows:

• $60 million to accelerate planned capital investments for the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory.
•$60 million in capital upgrades for ARM's Climate Research Facility, another DOE national scientific user facility. The money will be used to improve and expand observational capabilities related to cloud and aerosol properties in efforts to define the role aerosols have in affecting regional climate and atmospheric circulation.
• $4 million in energy equipment upgrades and improvements in three PNNL facilities.

Port Adds Additional Funds to Freight Mobility

The final concrete pour took place at Escala, a downtown Seattle condominium highrise, in early April. (Photo courtesy of J.E. Dunn)

Seattle – The Port of Seattle added $17.2 million in the East Marginal Way grade separation project, a crucial freight mobility improvement in South Seattle. The action brings the total port investment to $18.8 million.

Improvements to East Marginal Way are part of a broader effort to improve freight mobility in the area. The larger plan includes improvements to the Spokane Street corridor and the eventual replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Other funding sources for the $50 million project include federal grants, the Transportation Improvement Board, the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, and contributions from the City of Seattle and rail partners. Delays to the project resulted in significant increased costs; the Port’s additional investment closes the existing funding gap and allows the project to proceed.

Puget Sound Energy investing $50 million on new hatchery

Bellevue – Puget Sound Energy will begin a $50 million major renovation and expansion of its Baker River fish hatchery and its trap-and-haul facility for moving migrating adult salmon past the utility’s dams in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

The two projects are part of a collaborative, long-range effort by PSE, government resource agencies, local Native American tribes and other parties to increase the river’s fish populations, The facilities’ construction is directed by the 50-year federal operating license that PSE received last fall for its two-dam Baker River Hydroelectric Project.

The $25 million hatchery, scheduled for completion in June 2010, will upgrade and expand upon a much smaller trout - and salmon-culturing facility PSE has operated near Upper Baker Dam since the late 1960s. Reconstruction of the spawning beach is scheduled for completion in November 2010. The new hatchery and enhanced spawning beach are designed to produce about four times more fish eggs and hatched fry – approximately 14 million annually.

PSE is also constructing a larger, completely renovated fish trap for returning adult salmon. The new trap is slated for completion in June 2010. Other funding sources for the $50 million project include federal grants, the Transportation Improvement Board, the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, and contributions from the City of Seattle and rail partners. Delays to the project resulted in significant increased costs; the Port’s additional investment closes the existing funding gap and allows the project to proceed.

Hospital Wellness Center Starts in Eastern Oregon

Seattle - A new patient-focused, holistic Wellness Center designed by Seattle’s Johnston Architects for the Mid-Columbia Medical Center (MCMC) recently broke ground.

The Wellness Center—which will house a collection of healthcare programs and services—is part of the new Lone Pine development on the Columbia riverfront in The Dalles, Ore.

Design of the Wellness Center reflects MCMC’s patient-centered approach to wellness with references to the coastal character and Native American historical roots of the area. The 57,000 sq-ft facility is targeting LEED Silver certification, with sustainable features such as high efficiency heating and cooling systems, heat recovery ventilation, energy smart lighting, water efficient fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping. With the project, they also are exploring options to take advantage of the windy climate and harness wind power.

BPA Teams Up To Improve Columbia Fish Run

Portland - The State of Washington and the federal agencies that operate the Federal Columbia River Power System proposed a $40 million program to improve fish habitat. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation proposed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State of Washington that would protect and restore estuary habitat through 2018. The action nearly doubles estuary habitat funds. strengthening the federal commitment to listed stocks.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation proposed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State of Washington that would protect and restore estuary habitat through 2018. The action nearly doubles estuary habitat funds. strengthening the federal commitment to listed stocks.