WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Tri-Cities Bioproducts
Facility
A private-public partnership
to boost the value of agriculture and natural resource products to create
new manufacturing and jobs for Washington state’s economy
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Washington State University,
entering into an unprecedented partnership with Battelle Pacific Northwest
Laboratories in Richland, requests $13.1 million in state matching construction
funds to complete a $26.4 million, 57,000-square-foot, bioproducts laboratory
and instructional facility.
Up to $11.65 million
in non-state funding authority is requested through a state “Certificate
of Participation” (COP). Battelle, which operates the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory (PNNL) for the U.S. Department of Energy, will provide
lease payments to retire the debt service on the COP.
Growing New Industries
: The Bioproducts Facility will provide the critical research space
to develop and demonstrate the conversion of low-value agricultural products
and byproducts into value-added products. Processes will be developed and
demonstrated to convert residues like culls, straw, and manure and convert
them into products like plastics, solvents, and pharmaceuticals. This research
and the resulting demonstration projects will create new industries in Washington
and allow the state to export more processed products instead of raw agriculture
commodities and natural resources. The Facility will also promote the development
of existing value-added industries in Washington such as providing classroom,
research laboratory, and office space to support the state’s expanding wine
industry. The bioproducts industry will contribute to the state's economy
by expanding markets and creating jobs and investment opportunities. It
will reduce agricultural waste disposed to the environment and decrease
the nation's reliance on imported oil and gas.
Partnering with
Battelle to Serve The State: Battelle, with some 3,800 employees in
Richland, including 700 PhDs, does approximately $600 million worth of research
each year. WSU and Battelle have a long and rich history of working together.
The Tri-Cities campus is located within a half mile of the Battelle facilities.
Approximately 100 Battelle staff members have adjunct appointments with
WSU. They serve a unique and critical role to WSU as instructors and/or
research advisors and mentors to graduate students. WSU and many other
universities nationwide have partnered with Battelle, utilizing world-class
laboratory space to conduct research that addresses national priorities.
This facility and the joint programs that will result represent the most
ambitious partnership between the two research institutions. It is unique
because it will also be directed at projects that specifically address the
needs of the state of Washington.
Research and Graduate
Education: This shared facility will provide classroom and laboratory
space for targeted areas of instruction and research at WSU Tri-Cities.
Consistent with WSU’s strategic plans for biotechnology-related research
and education, the Facility will be used partially by the Northwest Institute
for Bioproducts Research. The Institute combines the capabilities of WSU,
PNNL, University of Idaho, and Idaho National Environmental Engineering
Laboratory. The research also fits in with WSU Tri-Cities’ strategic plan
to develop a world-class reputation in biotechnology-related research and
graduate education. Staff from Battelle will team with WSU faculty on proposals,
supervise graduate students, and teach as jointly appointed faculty. The
Institute will attract funding from the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture,
commodity commissions, food producers and processors, and other private
and public sources. Faculty, students, and staff from WSU Tri-Cities and
Battelle will be co-located in the building to facilitate collaboration
and resource sharing. Collaborations with Battelle will greatly enrich
the academic and research programs of WSU Tri-Cities, as well as the entire
University.
Science and Engineering.
The lack of classrooms and laboratories for teaching and conducting
research in science and selected areas of engineering has severely limited
WSU Tri-Cities' ability to attract quality faculty and graduate students.
It has also hampered development of certain undergraduate and graduate programs,
especially in basic sciences – something that is very much needed to support
the technology-based economy of the Tri-Cities and surrounding area. No
existing facilities can be modified to provide these desperately needed
classrooms and labs.
Project provides
the facility needed to house programs that address the following state
priorities of government (POG) recommendations:
-
POG Results #2 Workforce Quality and Productivity
-
POG Results #3 Value of Post-Secondary Learning
-
POG Results #6 Improve the Economic Vitality of Businesses and Individuals
-
POG Results #7 Improve the Statewide Mobility of People, Goods, Information
and Energy
-
POG Results #11 Improve the Ability of State Government to Achieve Results
Efficiently and Effectively
2005-07
Project Request: |
$13,100,000 |
|
Non-State
Funding |
(Up
to $11,650,000 COP) |
MACC = $14,850,000 = $261 |
GSF Sq Ft.
57,000 |
NASF Sq Ft.35,650 |
|
Project |
Total
$ |
2005-07 |
20007-09 |
2009-11 |
Tri-Cities
Bioproducts |
$26,400,000 |
$13,100,000 |
$0 |
$0
|
