Ferguson Proposes $10 Million for Richland Energy Park
The state would fund water, sewer, power and road work at a former Hanford Site tract near Richland.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Utilities
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Gov. Bob Ferguson proposed $10 million in state capital funding to prepare the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park near Richland. The 1,641-acre site, once part of the Hanford Site, would receive water, sewer, power and road infrastructure.
Why it matters
The proposal aims to position Washington's clean energy goals on former federal land, with Ferguson saying the investment could support thousands of construction jobs and, once companies move in, more. Atlas Agro and Ruby Flats Solar Farm have committed to the park, and General Matter is considering it for advanced nuclear fuel production.
The $10 million would come from the state capital budget rather than the operating budget, and it would go to the City of Richland to handle site work. Atlas Agro's fertilizer facility will cost $1.5 billion and is projected to cut the fertilizer's usual carbon footprint by 99%, while the Ruby Flats solar project would occupy 600 acres of the park.
The players
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson is the Governor of Washington, a Democrat who has championed state investment in clean energy and economic development.
Atlas Agro
Atlas Agro is a company building a low-carbon fertilizer production facility at the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park.
Ruby Flats Solar Farm
Ruby Flats Solar Farm is a developer planning a utility-scale solar project on 600 acres within the Richland park.
General Matter
General Matter is a company considering the Richland park as a site for advanced nuclear fuel production.
The details
The state would send the money to the City of Richland, which would handle the site work for water, sewer, power and road infrastructure. Ferguson announced the proposal Friday at Local 598 Union Hall in Pasco.
Timeline
Friday, November 13, 2026: Ferguson proposed $10 million for the clean energy park.
Mid-December 2026: Ferguson plans to release his full budget proposal.
January 2027: The Legislature's session and budget work begin.
Mid-April 2027: The legislative session is expected to end.
Roadmap
The park converts land that once supported Hanford's plutonium production into a site for clean energy manufacturing and generation. It follows a pattern of reusing former federal nuclear land for new industrial purposes in the Tri-Cities region.
For Washington taxpayers, the $10 million would come from the capital budget and fund site infrastructure rather than day-to-day state operations. Residents in the Tri-Cities could see construction employment rise if the park attracts the companies now committed to it.
The takeaway
The park shows how state capital funding can prepare former federal nuclear land for new industries, but the money still depends on legislative approval in the coming session. Its success will depend on whether the committed companies move forward with their projects.
What happens next
Ferguson plans to release his full budget proposal in mid-December, and the Legislature takes up the budget when its session begins in January and runs into mid-April.
Further reading
For broader context on power and infrastructure planning, explore more Utilities coverage.
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