Every day there is a new article or study proclaiming an urgent need for climate action, with myriad proposed solutions praising renewables as the cure-all.However, the realities of decarbonizing the electric grid are often far more complicated and nuanced than portrayed.Wind, solar and battery storage technologies are important, and deployment...
Research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has contributed for decades to the region’s leading role in clean energy technology development and deployment. The laboratory, based in Richland, has made advancements in energy storage, energy efficiency, clean energy and chemical production and electricity grid innovation. Today, our region has the potential to...
When it comes to heavy industry and manufacturing, low-cost electricity and the power sector are foundational to producing competitively priced goods and products.The Tri-City area is increasingly on the radar of companies looking for communities to bring new industries and jobs, the kind of jobs that include good wages and...
The decarbonization of the electric grid seems to be the topic of news stories across the country.The call for replacement of the fossil-fuel infrastructure, that was built over centuries, with clean-energy alternatives is the mantra of this generation.This decarbonization effort will require an unprecedented amount of investment, planning and skill...
When I’m home, like everyone else, I flip on the light switch and expect my lights to come on without giving a thought about if there’s enough electricity available.That’s the way it should be. People are busy and shouldn’t be concerned about there being enough electricity to keep the lights...
Seventy years ago, the soldiers of Camp Hanford built a giant Santa Claus and placed him, his sleigh and his reindeer on the main building of the post.It was a cheerful addition to Camp Hanford in Richland, which served as headquarters for the Army’s 5th Anti-Aircraft Group, which was charged...
Despite higher prices, inflation and safety concerns, more Christmas shoppers are browsing online but making in-store purchases.The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported this year an estimated 166.3 million people visited stores from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, 8 million more than last year and the highest level since NRF began...
Washington is fortunate to be a state filled with strong, resilient and innovative employers.We were reminded of that last month during the annual Association of Washington Business awards ceremony in Tacoma.AWB handed out a record 13 awards at the Nov. 17 Evening of Excellence gala in categories ranging from Employer...
One of my fondest childhood memories of this time of year was listening to the deep baritone of English actor Basil Rathbone as he narrated Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on my parents’ record player. (Yes, I know that dates me.)It made a toys-under-the-tree obsessed kid actually think about people...
2022 is the year that the Tri-Cities bounced back brighter, bigger and bolder for tourism-related businesses and renewed visitor spending in the Tri-Cities.Visit Tri-Cities kicked off the year by producing a strategic plan for the Tri-Cities Rivershore Enhancement Council, setting priorities and affirming overarching goals for the council to focus...
