In a press conference this afternoon, Governor Jay Inslee expressed his support for the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF) which WSU Tri-Cities would operate. The governor is previewing his budget priorities for the 2023-2025 biennium this week, culminating in his budget proposal to state lawmakers later in the week. He shared his intent to seek legislative support for state funding for INEF.
INEF’s mission is to address the increasing demand for clean energy by providing objective research and analysis that takes a systems approach to integrate new technologies with old. The Governor noted WSU’s multi-disciplinary approach to research, which will help generate what Inslee called “the number 1 source of renewable energy – innovation.”
WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes shared that the Institute will be strategically based in the Mid-Columbia region, which is home to various clean energy sources including hydro, nuclear, wind, solar and biomass. “There are many other inventive companies in the area focused on energy, including utilities, and of course, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.” The governor observed that the Tri-Cities is already home to considerable engineering talent, “we need to put it to work” he shared.
Lawmakers convene the second week of January for the 2023 legislative session where they will contemplate the governor’s budget proposal. The state House and Senate will each present a proposal of their own later in the session before agreeing on a compromised final budget.