National Cleanup Workshop Wrap-up: Event Marks 10 Years as EM Turns 35

Transparency and the importance of community participation were the top themes during the economic development discussion with industry and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) leaders at the 2024 National Cleanup Workshop.

Taking place shortly after Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm's keynote address, the panel explored how the private sector can reuse EM sites to support clean energy initiatives and generate economic growth - two priorities Granholm highlighted in her remarks.

Throughout the hourlong conversation, panelists emphasized the need for community-driven ideas and processes to ensure a successful outcome for all parties involved.

"Having a shared community vision for reusing EM sites and surrounding land is critical," said Diahann Howard, executive director for the Port of Benton and administrator for the VERTical innovation cluster. "The Northwest Clean Energy Park is our community's collective vision."

Howard cited the Northwest Clean Energy Park as a positive example of how the local community and businesses can transform a former DOE site into an advanced clean energy manufacturing and industrial hub.

The park, which sits on Port of Benton property within the city of Richland and on Energy Northwest land, was formerly part of DOE's Hanford Site. The park is now home to leading research, technology and manufacturing industries with a global impact.

Nearly 200 individuals and 60 companies came together to champion the park. To date, there are about $4.5 billion in projects with more than a thousand jobs under contract or pending at the Northwest Clean Energy Park.

To replicate the success of projects like the Northwest Clean Energy Park in other areas, panelists agreed that open dialogue between communities, DOE and industry is crucial.

Joel Bradburne, manager of EM's Portsmouth Paducah Project Office, spoke about the possibilities for DOE site reuse.

"A lot of this stuff is site centric and that's why the communities are so focused," he said. "When it comes to energy alternatives, it's not one size fits all."

Several panelists commended EM for its commitment to community engagement.

"The bottom line is that EM has been very open and honest and transparent and tried very hard to make sure that at any of these sites, that people understand what is happening, and if they don't, that there is a pathway to get there," said Kirt Marlow, executive director, Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, and senior vice president, Boston Government Services.

Wiley Rhodes, CEO of Newpoint Gas LLC, echoed Marlow's sentiment: "From my standpoint, I have been extremely impressed with what the Department of Energy and the whole team have done."

-Contributor: Melissa Sullivan

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