
Articles by Guest Contributor

America needs more diverse fuel sources
The news that President Joe Biden plans to resume leasing federal land for oil exploration maybe good five years from now, but that action alone won’t bring down record gas prices at the pump in the months ahead. According to American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.24…

Become an explorer in your own town
National Travel & Tourism Week may have wrapped in early May, but here at Visit Tri-Cities we have reason to celebrate tourism every day. From our rich history steeped in science to the amazing rivers and outdoor recreation that is only enhanced by our climate to the unique gathering places, our world-class wine, brews and…

Tri-Cities’ greenhouse gas footprint better than most metro areas
Over the next few years, we’ll be hearing a lot about Scope 1, 2 and 3. No, it’s not a revisit of a famous trial in Tennessee about a hundred years ago. The terms invoke science, however. Instead of a reflection on human ancestry, they look ahead to the future of the planet and, in…

Happy 100th birthday to the old green bridge
By Gale Metcalf for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business A century ago, the automobile had not yet completely replaced the horse and buggy as the main way of getting around in the United States. But, it was getting there. Yet getting to where you wanted to be – even with an automobile and the many…

How do blended families structure their wills?
When people vow to spend the rest of their lives together in wedded bliss, they sometimes bring a child or children from a previous relationship. Maybe after the union, the couple shares a child of their own in addition to the children from previous relationships. This is the typical “his, hers, theirs” family scenario. This…

Our progress lays foundation for new cleanup era at Hanford
Over the past year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and our contractor partners have made significant cleanup progress while establishing the safest possible environment for our workforce during the pandemic. Our One Hanford team has a lot to be proud of as we prepare to begin the next important chapter of our cleanup mission…

Hanford Advisory Board seeks volunteers to increase representation
The Hanford Advisory Board, which provides a public voice to the Hanford cleanup mission, is seeking volunteers to increase representation. The HAB has issued more than 300 advisories and recommendations in its 27-plus years. Its members are volunteers who dedicate themselves to learning all they can about Hanford cleanup, engage in civil discussion and reach…

There’s reason for optimism in the year ahead at Hanford
2021 was an eventful year for cleanup work at the Hanford site. That goes double for our Washington State Department of Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program team, which is responsible for overseeing the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup of Hanford’s nuclear legacy. A lot of important work was accomplished, and we look forward to the work…

HAEIF has provided $25 million in loans to 47 businesses, municipalities
The Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund was established by the Washington State Legislature in 1991 when local leaders, recognizing the mission of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation was changing, worked with legislators to establish an economic investment fund. The primary goal of the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee (HAEIFAC) is to provide loan funding…

Vit plant readies to heat up world’s largest melter
In 2022, the Hanford Vit Plant team will tackle some of the most complex and challenging milestones on our journey to transform low-activity radiological and chemical tank waste into a glass form safe for long-term disposal. This process, called vitrification, will allow us to protect the Columbia River and its rivershore communities. It’s an exciting…