At the core of Cleanup to Clean Energy is DOE's proposal to use up to 14,000 acres of excess lands at the Hanford site for the deployment of new sources of carbon-free power – something we inherently support and believe has great promise for our region. But the matter of concern is DOE’s requirement that any such projects be removed prior to the end of the cleanup mission.
The new $20 million AtkinsRéalis Technology Center opened on April 17 in Richland. Its work includes assembling and storing replacement melters for the Low-Activity Waste facility at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, or vit plant.
Each year the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business shines a spotlight on the work being done at the Hanford site north of Richland and how the robust injection of federal dollars weaves a vital thread through our local economy.
It can be challenging for small businesses looking for work at the Hanford nuclear site to get a foot in the door. But a U.S. Department of Energy program offers mentoring to small businesses, and it appears to be yielding results.
As many longtime employees begin to reach retirement age, and as some operations and activities at the site ramp up, maintaining and bolstering the Hanford workforce – which numbers more than 11,000 people – is a mission-critical endeavor, officials said.
One out of every 10 people in the Tri-Cities is employed by a job connected to federal funding, whether through the Hanford site, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory or with a subcontractor. This 13,000-person employment cluster’s impact on industries throughout the community remains significant.
For Hanford workers alone, about 35,000 claims have been filed on behalf of 13,000 separate people. Hanford workers have been paid $2.2 billion in compensation and benefits, representing about 15,000 claims.
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