A crash dummy could put a better face on the situation
[Update below 04/08/08]
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire spooked economic development groups in Richland, WA, this week when she said recently talked with Areva’s chief executive officer about a possible uranium enrichment plant in Richland and “reiterated my concern about disposal of waste.”
This is not what the Richland groups wanted to hear. Gregoire has not yet thrown her support to the project because of concerns about wastes at the plant. According to a report in the Tri-City Herald, Gregoire said she could support the project but it “depends on whether they’re able to deal with that” and wants to see a waste disposal plan in place.
The state's two U.S. senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, support the project. Supporters in Richland rated the governor's remarks as "less than enthusiastic." They complained the governor is late to the party and think she could have balanced her comments with an emphasis on landing the project.
A site adjacent to Areva’s existing fuel fabrication plant in Richland is being considered. The expansion would be a major economic coup for the Tri-Cities.
The plant could cost $2 billion to build, could generate 700 construction jobs and 350 to 400 permanent family wage jobs, according to the Tri-City Development Council.
Update 04/08/08
Gov. Gregoire did not improve her profile on the Areva deal with a visit to Richland this week. If anything, it got slightly worse. Her perspective she said, is that she's trying to walk a fine. In on the one hand she says she's trying to keep opponents at bay. On the other hand, she's not certain Washington is Areva's top choice and wants to temper any overconfidence Washington may have.
Let's translate that . . . she wants to shore up her green votes in the Seattle area without annoying the building trades in Richland who really want to be in on the construction of a $2 billion manufacturing plant. In the last election Gregoire got less than a third of the vote in Richland.
We'll know soon enough what's going to happen with the plant. Areva's executive committee met last week. Unless there is some new wrinkle in the fabric, an announcement should show up any day now.
April 3, 2008
Richland spooked by Governor's remarks
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In a second editorial the Tri-City Herald backed off it's earlier statements about Gregoire's support of the AREVA enrichment plant in Richland.
'Yes, the governor mentioned to the head of Areva's U.S. division during a recent phone conversation that there'd be some regulatory hurdles to clear if Areva chooses Richland for the new plant.
But our editorial missed the mark when it described Gregoire's support as conditional, she said.
If her earlier remarks to the Herald about wastes from the plant sounded like she harbored concerns, they weren't meant that way.
Washingtonians need to hear that depleted uranium left over from the enrichment process will be handled properly if Richland is selected for the plant.
But Areva is a good corporate citizen of Washington, and Gregoire made clear she's confident the company will continue to act responsibly.
Gregoire added that her recent phone conversations with Michael McMurphy, president and CEO of Areva's U.S. operations, "couldn't have been more positive."'
The new plant would be sited adjacent to AREVA's existing fuel fabrication plant. In the days before Jimmy Carter then Exxon Nuclear had constructed a building to house a gas centrifuge plant on that very spot. Since then the building was torn down to keep from having to pay taxes on an empty building. Interestingly enough the enrichment plant would right next to the auxiliary gate through which all the current uranium cylinders pass on truck beds.
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