EconomySaturday, November 14
Gov. Ferguson wants $10 million to prepare the Richland clean energy park for new tenants
The Daily Kennewick team
Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Friday in Pasco that he wants $10 million for water, sewer, electrical and road work at the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park north of Richland. The city of Richland would handle the site work if lawmakers approve.
Atlas Agro's low-carbon fertilizer plant and the Ruby Flats Solar Farm have committed to the park, and General Matter is considering a $4.5 billion project to make fuel for small advanced reactors.
Two projects have committed to the park and a third is interested
| Project | Status | Land |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Agro fertilizer plant | Committed | Horn Rapids Road site |
| Ruby Flats Solar Farm | Committed | 600 acres |
| General Matter nuclear fuel | Considering | 425 acres |
Sources: GeekWire, Bellingham Herald, AppleValleyNewsNow.com
- Park size: 1,641 acres of former Hanford land
- Capital budget requests received: about 200
- Ruby Flats Solar Farm: 127.5 megawatts
Ferguson made his first capital-budget announcement in the Tri-Cities, and he said that shows how much it matters. He'll put the request in his proposed capital budget in December. That budget is separate from the operating budget, which faces a multibillion-dollar shortfall. Lawmakers still must approve the money, and Ferguson called $10 million "very, very modest" next to what the park could bring.
Projects eyeing the park run into the billions, far above the state's $10 million
Source: Bellingham Herald
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| State proposal | $10 million |
| Atlas Agro plant and data center | $2,000 million |
| General Matter project | $4,500 million |