Letter to the Hon. Donald J. Trump - Support Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Letter

Dear Mr. President:

As part of our continuing effort to introduce you to the work of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in our home State of Washington, we write to share with you the importance of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL, or Lab) and the countless innovative and groundbreaking scientific developments that have and continue to take place at the Lab. PNNL is one of the foremost national laboratories in the country and for over 50 years it has made significant contributions to the scientific community, the Tri-Cities, the State of Washington, and in support of our great nation.

PNNL's origins are traced back to the nuclear materials development mission that helped the United States win World War II and the Cold War. Since then the Lab, stewarded by DOE's Office of Science, has evolved into a multi-program national laboratory that is tackling some of our nation's most complex and urgent challenges in the fields of science, energy, environment, and national security, among others. PNNL is a major economic driver in the State of Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest, and with a staff of 4,300 it is one of the largest employers in Central and Eastern Washington. The Lab is comprised of three sites in Washington, including the main campus and headquarters in Richland, the Battelle Research Center in Seattle, and the Marine Sciences Laboratory (MSL) in Sequim, which is located on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Since its inception in 1965, PNNL has had a strong partnership with Battelle, which has set an unparalleled example of success through a shared dedication to coordination and collaboration.

As DOE's premier laboratory for chemistry, environmental sciences, and data analytics, the Lab has made significant contributions to the resilience, security, and reliability of the electric grid. PNNL also leads nuclear nonproliferation work for DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration, including work to safeguard nuclear materials. PNNL's state-of-the-art nuclear detection capability helps ensure that bad actors don't have access to weapons of mass destruction. Furthermore, MSL is DOE's only marine research laboratory and is an emerging leader in enabling sustainable development of ocean energy, understanding and mitigating long-term impacts on marine resources, and protecting coastal environments from security threats.

In addition to this important work, PNNL addresses other key national challenges for other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and National Institutes of Health, and various other federal, state and local agencies. Additionally, the Lab's main campus is home to many important and acclaimed facilities, including:

* The Applied Process Engineering Laboratory: a technology business startup facility providing the equipment needed to develop, validate, and commercialize new products;

* The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory: a scientific user facility that enables molecular-level discoveries that translate to predictive understanding and accelerated solutions for national energy and environmental challenges by providing world class experimental and computational resources to the scientific community;

* The Interdiction Technology and Integration Laboratory: advances threat detection systems that reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism;

* The Radiochemical Processing Laboratory: creates and implements innovative processes for environmental cleanup and the beneficial use of radioactive materials;

* The Systems Engineering Building: develops new grid modernization technologies and conducts electricity transmission research to provide stronger, smarter, and more resilient energy systems and grid technologies;

* The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility: a scientific user facility that provides detailed atmospheric information about geographically diverse locations to enhance understanding of the Earth system and inform sustainable solutions to national energy and environmental challenges; and

* The Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory: where researchers are developing technologies to convert low-value agricultural byproducts and residues into value-added chemicals for products like plastics, solvents, fibers, pharmaceuticals, and fuel additives.

PNNL is home to many additional facilities that are vital to ensuring the Lab remains mission-ready, with unique instruments and infrastructure that are reliable, sustainable, and adaptable to the challenges of future scientific discovery. PNNL is a leader in preserving our capacity to innovate, enhancing our competitive edge in the global economy, supporting our national security, and improving our quality of life. Further, PNNL's commitment to commercialization and technology transfer has brought research out of the laboratory and into the real world. As one of our nation's seventeen national laboratories, PNNL's state-of-the-art facilities and campus benefit not only the scientists and researchers in Washington state, but will also ensure PNNL is ready to meet the nation's research priorities now and well into the future.

We look forward to working with you and the Department of Energy to advance policies that will continue to support the Lab's integral scientific innovation and technology development activities, as well as the many other vital contributions PNNL has made to the frontiers of science and engineering in service to our country and the world. Thank you for your attention to PNNL and please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.