Energy

Feds award Framatome $8.8 million to expand production

ty@tcjournal.biz — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Framatome is one of a handful of companies that will receive federal funding to build out fuel production for the next generation of nuclear power reactors, and that money is coming directly to its Richland plant.

Hanford advocates push back on proposed federal cleanup cuts

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The Trump administration’s proposed cuts to Hanford cleanup funding is drawing backlash from Washington officials, unions and watchdog groups, despite DOE assurances that critical work will continue uninterrupted.

The electric grid tradeoffs Washington can’t ignore

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The debate over salmon recovery and hydropower in the Northwest has shifted into a broader fight over grid reliability and cost, with critics arguing that reducing hydropower without reliable replacements risks worsening already strained electricity supply and sharply increasing prices for customers.

This site offers one stop for Hanford job seekers

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

A new jobs website aggregates job postings from every prime Hanford site contractor and other energy-adjacent employers such as Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy Northwest and Framatome.

Grant to help equip students for high-demand nuclear jobs

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy recently awarded a $1.4 million grant to WSU to develop a Reactor Ready Training Program to address workforce gaps in the nuclear industry.

He asked for a seat – and now he runs the school

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

More than a decade after a Hanford-focused trade school closed, Atomic Technical Institute is helping to fill a gap in training for environmental and nuclear safety jobs, creating a new pathway for workers to enter and advance in a field critical to the region’s workforce.

Richland moves to buy long vacant $7.75M building for police station

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Richland’s city council has agreed to buy a long vacant seven-story building off Jadwin Avenue to replace its current police station, and is banking on money from the sale of land for a data center to help fund the project.

How the Strait of Hormuz affects the price of filling your gas tank

Wed, 13 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Even though the U.S. now imports far less oil from the Persian Gulf than it once did, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz still drive up gasoline prices because oil is traded on a global market. When supply tightens anywhere, prices rise everywhere – including at American gas pumps.

Trump signs Newhouse-supported hydropower bill

Tue, 12 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

President Donald Trump has signed a broadly bipartisan bill that will extend deadlines for construction to begin on hydropower projects around the country.

PNNL program highlights highly qualified contractors, technicians

Mon, 11 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of contractors and other trade professionals as you plan for a home project? Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is helping to make sure the most qualified can stand out from the rest, at least online.

Feds sign off on expanded license for Framatome’s Richland plant

ty@tcjournal.biz — Wed, 06 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A nuclear fuel manufacturing facility north of Richland is continuing its march to be on the front line of providing advanced fuels and technologies to the burgeoning U.S. nuclear energy industry.

Report: Nearly half of Americans oppose data centers in their communities

Mon, 04 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of daily life but the infrastructure that supports it is something many Americans want no part of.

X-energy goes public

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

You can now buy stock in the company planning to build the next generation of nuclear reactors north of Richland in partnership with Amazon and Energy Northwest.

WSU researchers find cheaper means to unlock the power of sewage

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A team of Washington State University researchers, including some based at the WSU Tri-Cities campus, have found a new method to treat sewage that reduces the costs of wastewater treatment while also creating renewable natural gas.

State officials seek comment on potential energy impacts of data centers

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Have thoughts on how data centers could impact electric resources and consumers in Washington state? State officials want to hear from you.

Federal funding for state energy projects to be restored

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Trump administration has dropped its appeal to a federal court ruling that blocked its cap on federal reimbursement for state energy programs, threatening projects ranging from energy efficiency and grid resilience to wildfire mitigation.

Amazon plans another data center southwest of Tri-Cities

ty@tcjournal.biz — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Planning officials in Oregon’s Morrow County recently approved a proposal from Amazon to build a data center campus with buildings encompassing 816,000 square feet just east of the Boardman Airport.

Soaring diesel prices hit WA family farms' bottom line

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The conflict in Iran has caused fuel prices to soar and Washington State farmers said it hits them hard when they are putting crops in the ground.

WA awards $7.3M in clean energy grants in Benton, Franklin counties

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

State officials recently announced funding for a slew of solar power projects along with a few other clean energy efforts in the Mid-Columbia.

More PNNL cuts possible under Trump’s proposed 2027 budget

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Research programs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory may be facing more belt tightening if President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year is implemented.

X-energy announces intention to go public

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The nuclear company behind the small modular reactors planned for north of Richland has launched the process to sell common stock in the company via the Nasdaq stock exchange.

WSU Tri-Cities researchers secure funding from university president initiative

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Projects aimed at nuclear energy and education at Washington State University Tri-Cities are among the 10 projects to receive inaugural awards from a research initiative from WSU President Betsy Cantwell.

Benton, Walla Walla ports earn economic development awards

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A state-level economic development association singled out the ports of Benton and Walla Walla for accolades in its annual awards for securing the most economically significant development projects in the past year.

Solgen assets worth $7M going on the auction block

ty@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Everything from uninstalled solar panels and fleet vehicles to computers and office furniture will be up for the taking beginning March 25 as liquidators clear inventory and equipment of a former Pasco-based solar company that went bankrupt at the end of 2025.

Tri-City drivers are paying about $1 more per gallon than a month ago

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Spring break is just around the corner, and if you’re driving to take some time off, you’ll be shelling out a good bit more at the pump.

Yakama Nation receives state funding for clean energy projects

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Yakama Nation will receive $4.9 million from the state Department of Commerce to advance several clean energy projects.

Future data centers offer promise but also pressures

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

With abundant land, affordable clean power and an experienced talent pool, the Tri-Cities can become the nation’s premier digital infrastructure hub. But the real opportunity lies in getting the balance right and pairing rapid growth with environmental responsibility, sound energy planning and meaningful returns for local communities.

Project Omega’s nuclear tech gets scientific boost from PNNL collaboration

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

A private East Coast enterprise is teaming up with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to recycle spent nuclear fuel – and the results could power endeavors like space exploration while making spent nuclear fuel less dangerous.

Amazon moves to close $36M land deal for Wallula Gap data center

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

Amazon, the company once shrouded in secrecy that wants to build a $5 billion data center at Wallula Gap, is looking to buy even more land for the project.

Group says state omitted critical wind farm comments from record

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:48:42 -0400

One of the opponents of a proposed wind farm south and west of the Tri-Cities claims the state attorney general’s office left public comments opposing the project out of records transmitted to the Washington Supreme Court.