Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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The Tri-Cities could have a north Richland-Pasco bridge over the Columbia River paid for by fuel savings from the central heating system of the Hanford Vitrification Plant.
In 2002 the Department of Energy compared three possible fuels to heat the steam boilers: Fuel oil, electricity and natural gas for a period from 2004 to 2028. The prices were based on fuel prices paid at the Hanford site for 2001 except for natural gas, which was based on a quoted price by Cascade Natural Gas. The life cycle cost for natural gas was $153,856,000, electricity was $211,087,000 and fuel oil was $218,727,000. Department of Energy selected fuel oil and installed the necessary equipment.
Adequate natural gas is obtainable from the large transmission line in Pasco. In 2002 the savings by use of natural gas over fuel oil was $64,871,000. In 2009 the prices were updated and the savings was $205,676,587 for the same period.
A natural gas line from the large transmission line in Pasco could be attached to the north Richland-Pasco bridge and provide that savings and much more with the new schedule for the Vitrification Plant to operate from 2019 to 2047.
The bridge would improve our transport and economy for people from both counties.
ROBERT LARSON, Richland
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