$13.1 million added to Washington budget for new lab
Governor Chris Gregoire recently celebrated at a ceremony adding $13.1 million in her state capital budget for the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory, or BSEL. The event, held at the Washington State University Tri-Cities branch campus, attracted more than 200 attendees.
Gov. Gregoire calls BSEL, a $24-million lab jointly promoted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and WSU, "the wisest investment we can make for the future of the Tri-Cities and for the entire state."
BSEL, to be located at the Tri-Cities branch campus, is a facility in which researchers will develop processes to turn agriculture waste into chemicals for products like plastics, solvents and fibers. The laboratory also will provide badly needed educational space for WSU students and an opportunity for PNNL researchers and WSU faculty to collaborate on research projects.
PNNL's Walt Apley and Theresa Bergsman were driving forces behind the vision for BSEL. Here is a link to a video stream of the Governor's speech as well as comments from PNNL Laboratory Director Len Peters and WSU's Chancellor Larry James and Vice Provost of Research Jim Peterson http://ims.pnl.gov/2005/04/wsu/wsu.asx.
The Washington state budget still must be approved by the Legislature. However in addition to the Governor's budget, full funding for BSEL also has been included in the Washington State House and Senate budgets.