The repercussions of a mid-February layoff of hundreds of probationary federal employees at the Bonneville Power Administration, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford field office continue to be felt across the Mid-Columbia.
Five leases in the region have been terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency, including in Richland. The move leaves more questions than answers.
With Amazon and Energy Northwest teaming up to provide small modular nuclear reactors located at Energy Northwest’s campus in north Richland, local utilities are taking notice – and they are planning to take advantage of the opportunity.
A change to what West Richland will allow to be built in some parts of the city could signal that developers are eyeing the community for a future data center.