TRI-CITIES LEADERS PLAN TO REINVIGORATE WORKFORCE AT DOE-EM-EFCOG-ECA WORKFORCE ROUNDTABLE 

ECA Staff | 05/16/2024

On May 7th, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Facilities Contractor Group (EFCOG) and Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) held their third workforce roundtable meeting in Kennewick, WA (near DOE’s Hanford Site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)). As the largest EM-managed site in the country, and likely the longest ongoing mission, Hanford requires the greatest long-term workforce needs. The roundtable was organized with support from the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC), and drew attendance from over 70 people, including a diverse array of municipal, Tribal, and K-12 education leaders. Contractor leadership, DOE leadership, representatives from industry, leadership from PNNL, representatives from local unions, and leaders from nearby higher education institutions were also in attendance. 

The Roundtable was attended by over 70 individuals across government, industry, and education

Highlights:

ECA Chair, Mayor Brent Gerry, West Richland, WA kicked off the meeting by saying: “Bringing together DOE, the contractors and communities with the workforce and the people that train the workforce is critical for my community and every community. We appreciate the work that ECA, EFCOG, EM, TRIDEC, and the Hanford Communities took to bring together state, tribal, union, technical and traditional educators along with DOE and the contractors for this meeting. By discussing ways to improve our working together, for the current and future workforce at Hanford, PNNL and in the private sector, we are ensuring a strong workforce both now and for future generations.”

Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Regulatory and Policy Affairs, Kristen Ellis followed by highlighting EM’s role in facilitating workforce discussions throughout the DOE sites that host an EM mission and cooperating with the other DOE offices that manage and operate the sites. 

Local leaders agreed that an aging workforce presented the largest challenge to the area, and the consequent potential loss of skill turnover to the next generation. Therefore, much of the discussion focused on innovative ways to rejuvenate the workforce, and the issues associated with such an undertaking. 

To fuel future growth, the Tri-Cities area will need to fill thousands of new jobs with engineers, planners, tradesmen, technicians, chemists, supervisors, accountants and more. However, the parties acknowledged that there is stiff competition for young professionals, many of whom are drawn to positions in big tech that can offer higher immediate wages and benefits. The parties also acknowledged that they were competing over a dwindling pool of local labor. Moreover, various leaders noted that investment in local community infrastructure and programs, such as housing developments, daycare expansion, and healthcare services will be vital to drawing and retaining the next generation of the workforce. 

Securing a stable labor pipeline for the next generation was discussed as a solution to these challenges. Leaders and instructors thoroughly explained the various programs they have to offer in the area. Those in attendance also emphasized the need to begin engagement prior to post-secondary education, such as elementary school. It was also noted that it would be beneficial for these programs to partner with high school teachers and counselors to educate students and parents alike about the industry, the expanding industry programs, and the presence of industry in local and regional universities. Leaders also noted the need for increased coordination between industry and education, regarding information-sharing, transferable education, and cooperation to establishment more apprenticeship, intern, and co-op programs.

Furthermore, it is crucial to communicate to graduates and jobseekers the safety and benefits of working in nuclear. Along with providing assistance to prepare and apply for a position in the industry. 

The Tri-Cities are the third community to host this workforce discussion, following Los Alamos in August 2023, and the Savannah River Site (SRS) in December 2023. This week, ECA, DOE and EFCOG will return to SRS on May 17th for our second workforce-focused discussion with those host communities. 

ECA will provide updates as this initiative continues to spread to other DOE-EFCOG-ECA communities.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MOVES FORWARD WITH CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY PROJECT FOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL

DOE-NE | 05/15/2024

COMMUNITY LEADERS SIGN REQUEST FOR LAND TRANSFER AT PADUCAH DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SITE

WPSD Local 6| 05/15/2024

PADUCAH — Several community leaders signed a formal letter of request Wednesday for the first transfer of land from the Paducah Department of Energy site to the community, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday.

A news release from Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce said that the request is an important first step in planning to reindustrialize the DOE site. The Paducah-McCracken County Industrial Development Authority and the Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization submitted the request. McCracken County Judge-Executive and IDA chair Craig Clymer and PACRO chair Eddie Jones signed the letter.

The letter requests the transfer of about 250 acres of property to the community, and any use of the land would be consistent with the industrial use of the site historically. The land would allow the potential to bring energy, nuclear, technology, manufacturing, and related industries to the area.

“This is a multi-step process that could take several years,” Clymer said. “IDA appreciates DOE’s efforts to make property available for economic development, which furthers IDA’s local economic development objectives.”

President of the Chamber Sandra Wilson notes that in prior years, the community couldn't request the land. However, with much legwork from Paducah leaders, the community can officially request the property from the D.O.E.

"We're going to continue to push for at least than that, less than a couple of years," Wilson said. "We would hope that would be in the next year to two years. But it will have to go all the way to Washington, so it's not an easy step."

The IDA is the organization that holds land for Paducah's economic development efforts and can issue bonds, handle infrastructure grants and construction. It is designated as the local recipient for any available land. The Greater Paducah Economic Development organization oversees the process of recruiting economic development interests to Paducah and McCracken County and coordinates the work of IDA.

NEW MEDIA:

Gone Fission Nuclear Report: K-25 Reunion: Recalling Nuclear History

May 6, 2024 | S4 E9

On April 27, 2024, more than 650 former workers at the historic K-25 gaseous diffusion plant in Oak Ridge, TN, came together for their first-ever reunion. As Daniel Dassow wrote in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, it was the first time many had driven their private cars into the complex, the first time they weren’t required to show a badge and perhaps the first time they had seen K-25 as a field site with no large buildings left. In this week’s Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast, Host Michael Butler takes a look at this unique get-together and joins attendees in remembering their historic careers. Our guest is former K-25 Plant Manager Harold Conner.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

National Academies: Leveraging Community Benefit Frameworks: Empowering Communities to Benefit from Federally Funded Energy Projects

May 16-17, 2024 | Washington, D.C.

Register Here | Agenda

To Receive Testimony on the Department of Energy’s Atomic Energy Defense Activities and Department of Defense Nuclear Weapons Programs in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2025 and the Future Years Defense Program

May 22, 2024 | Washington, D.C.

Live Hearing Here

2024 National Cleanup Workshop

September 16-18, 2024 | Crystal Gateway Marriott (Arlington, VA)

More Information Here

Check out ECA's latest report! 

DISPOSAL DRIVES CLEANUP: RE-ENERGIZING MOMENTUM FOR DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE

This report calls on the Department of Energy to launch the initiative to develop the actual waste disposition approaches. The Department could potentially save hundreds of billions of dollars in cleanup costs by using its available tools and implementing the report’s recommendations.