WSU Tri-Cities Groundbreaking

4/13/06

**\*As Prepared for Delivery\***

 

It's a great day for our state---moving Washington forward.

 

Just over a year ago, I tried to mimic Douglas McArthur---as only a
Governor can--- when I said, "I shall return!" For all of us present at
the creation, for all of us who worked together to nurture this idea and
corral the necessary funding for the Bioproducts, Engineering, and
Sciences Laboratory, today is pretty sweet.

 

So, you better believe I couldn't wait to race back and participate in
this morning's groundbreaking!

 

I'm proud that my construction budget provided the \$13.1 million to
help build this facility. This funding reflects my belief, and the
belief of many others, that this lab will lead the way for a new, 21^st^
century industry---an industry that will keep Washington, and the
Tri-Cities in particular, globally competitive and moving forward.

 

Nationwide, we're seeing a new strategy for economic development that
engages state and local governments, private businesses, and higher-ed.
The Tri-Cities is a showcase for this cooperation. The relationship
between WSU-Tri Cities, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and
the biosciences industry will generate new jobs, new opportunities, and
a new beginning as we rip away at the "Cascade Curtain."

 

We've made historic progress building our economy by [investing in
education]{.underline}, by [investing in infrastructure]{.underline} to
accommodate new growth, and by [insuring that we are competitive so our
business and industries thrive]{.underline}.

 

Researchers in this lab will be investigating ways to convert low-value
agricultural byproducts into important chemicals for products like
plastics, solvents, fibers, pharmaceuticals and fuel additives. What a
great concept---taking waste products we would need to dispose of
anyway, and turning them into valued products that will be useful to the
public---while also providing a revenue stream to the farmer. This is
really the ground floor of a promising new industry. And these new ideas
and technologies can be spun out to the private sector, possibly
creating entirely new businesses.

 

The facility will also provide much-needed classrooms and labs for
science education programs. This is another win-win for students in the
community and businesses looking for well-trained workers.

 

As I said earlier, collaboration is the ticket to greater economic
success. And the facility is being constructed to maximize interaction
between PNNL researchers, industry, and university faculty and students.
I can't emphasize enough how valuable this interaction will be for all
parties involved. I am very proud of the innovative approach this new
lab is taking. The result of this innovation will be more jobs and
investment opportunities in the region, as well as an educated,
well-trained, high-tech workforce.

 

There are significant new initiatives I am supporting that are going to
make this collaboration even stronger. One of these initiatives is the
Life Sciences Discovery Fund. This is a public-private partnership
between our higher education institutions and the private sector,
including the high tech community and the health care industry. It will
bring our economy together from Seattle to Spokane, Vancouver to the
Tri-Cities, and up and down the I-5 corridor to revolutionize health
care.

 

The plan dedicates our bonus tobacco funds to attract matching federal
and private grants that could total more than \$1 billion over the next
10 to 15 years. We expect the fund to stimulate the development of new
technologies and create as many as 20,000 new jobs in the state over the
next 10 to 15 years. This initiative will help businesses that are old
and new, big and small, on both sides of the state.

 

Our agriculture will be the centerpiece of the Life Sciences Discovery
Fund. And Eastern Washington will be a key contributor as we work
together to find cures to dreaded diseases such as Parkinson's and
cancer. In practice, this effort means human wellness through
agriculture.

 

We also have another niche, one that I'm very proud of: Washington has
the safest and highest quality agriculture anywhere. When I'm overseas
in countries such as China, they know that "Washington" means Washington
State, and they know that we're all about quality. Quality agriculture,
quality coffee, quality planes, and quality software. "Quality" is as
promising a "niche" as anything we could ask for, and the Tri-Cities and
Eastern Washington are leading the way.

 

Simply put, Washington is a major player. As I often say, we\'re like a
small nation, rather than a state. By recognizing this, those of us in
government and the private sector can work together to ensure that
Washington remains the most globally competitive region in the country.

 

Here's the rub with how important today really is: Low-energy costs are
no longer a given for us in the Northwest. We need to reduce our
dependence upon foreign oil while contributing to the solution by
investing in the new, bio-fuel economy. And because of our unique mix of
resources, we are built to lead the world in bio-fuels.

 

We're trying to promote the Northwest's leadership in bio-fuels by using
economic fundamentals: Supply and demand. On the demand side, I signed
legislation in Moses Lake last month to gradually increase the
percentage of bio-fuels in our fuel supply, because we must reduce our
dependence on foreign oil.

 

Entering this industry is a risk for farmers, so we have to help
generate the marketplace for them -- and help companies that will create
these fuels from our crops.

 

This effort will also make whole the promise of "One Washington." It
will unite our state in a way few other things can:

 

For example, we can grow these crops in eastern Washington, crush the
seeds in places like Moses Lake, and ship them across the Cascades for
use in busses in Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia (where my local transit
service uses 40% biodiesel blends).

 

If we do, we begin to keep some of that \$25 million a day we spend on
fuel in our communities, not in the commodity traders' offices in
Houston and New York, not in the pockets of oil company CEOs, and most
particularly not in countries that do not share our interests and
values.

 

This is a first step. We could not have taken it alone, it required all
of us working together, moving Washington forward.

 

Thank you.

 

\###

Kristin Jacobsen \| Deputy Press Secretary \| Office of Governor Chris
Gregoire \|\
\| 360-902-4122 \| Kristin.Jacobsen@gov.wa.gov \|

***\"Moving Washington Forward\"***