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Mike Benbow, Business Editor
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Published: Sunday, June 21, 2009
Biz week
Air Force tanker
The Boeing Co., which lost an earlier bid to build a new Air Force refueling tanker in part because the 767 airframe was deemed too small, is developing a plan to offer the bigger 777. The company, which won a rebid for the $35 billion job, announced last week that if the Air Force was to go bigger, it will be ready. Boeing is wanting for specifications for the new bid. "We don't know if there's going to be a requirement for a larger airplane or a smaller airplane," said Jim Albaugh.
2nd 787 line: In an interview during the Paris Air Show, Boeing's Pat Shanahan said the company has "lots of geographical options" for placement of a second 787 production line. A second line would be needed to meet Boeing's production goals and Shanahan noted the decision about where that goes will be decided in part on how the company can "secure assurance of delivery." He noted the topic arose from "some of the disruption we've realized at Boeing," presumed to be a reference Everett's labor strike.
Jobless rate rises: Snohomish County's unemployment rate rose to 9.5 percent in May. The county lost 500 jobs during the month as layoffs continued in most sectors. Jobs in aerospace stayed relatively flat. The county rate was slightly higher than the state average. The hit was higher than in King County (8 percent) and lower than in Pierce County (10.1 percent). "The economic numbers are volatile right now, and at times contradictory," said Greg Weeks of the state Employment Security Department.
Solar power from space: An Everett firm has filed to patent technology that would harness the sun's power from space and transmit it to Earth. William Maness, chief executive of PowerSat Corp., said the technology is complicated but within reach. His plan would use smaller satellites to work together to send energy around the globe.
Mike Benbow, Herald Writer
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