Business Briefly: Port of Everett named Job Creator of the Year

Port of Everett named Job Creator of the Year

EVERETT — The Washington Public Ports Association named the Port of Everett the Job Creator of the Year for its $40 million Norton Terminal cleanup and redevelopment project.

The award recognizes a port that creates family-wage jobs for the community. The group represents the state’s 75 port districts.

“Job creation and economic development is the core mission of Washington port districts, and the Norton Terminal project is a perfect example of how ports undertake that mission,” said Eric ffitch, Executive Director of the Washington Public Ports Association.

The Norton Terminal, is a 40-acre holding facility for cargo containers that doubles the port’s storage capacity. With its debut last December it becomes the first all-new cargo terminal to open on the West Coast in more than a decade.

The project put the former Kimberly-Clark mill site to use, turning the once-contaminated parcel into a maritime hub that now supports more than 950 jobs, port officials said.

“I want to thank our team for their amazing work on delivering this critical Norton Terminal project in just two years – all the while navigating a global pandemic and historic supply chain challenges,” said port CEO Lisa Lefeber.

“The project highlights the Port’s proven track record in leveraging capital investment to restore contaminated sites and bring them back into job and economic producing use, all while making significant strides to enhance the environment.”

The port acquired the property in 2019, after the Kimberly-Clark mill’s closing in 2011.

Much of the project’s $40 million cost went toward cleaning up debris and contaminants deposited by a century of mill work.

An $18 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration and a $9 million grant from the state Department of Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program helped cover the cost.

Over the past decade, the port has invested more than $150 million to modernize its seaport facilities, expand cargo handling capabilities and green the supply chain, Lefeber said.

Together, the projects support over 1,050 direct jobs and 1,300 indirect jobs and generate $14.5 million in state and local taxes and $46.5 million in federal taxes.

Zap Energy receives $5 million for fusion energy plant

EVERETT — An energy company with research facilities in Everett and Mukilteo has received a $5 million federal grant to develop a fusion energy plant.

The U.S Department of Energy grant supports Zap Energy’s efforts to develop a fusion pilot plant through the department’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program.

Founded in 2017, Zap Energy describes it’s proposed plant design as a “low-cost, compact … fusion energy system.”

“Zap’s selection reflects our tangible progress toward an achievable, grid-ready power source,” said Benj Conway, CEO and co-founder of Zap Energy. “This program aligns with our aggressive milestones and bolsters our ability to succeed as quickly as possible.”

In all, eight U.S. fusion companies were awarded $46 million as part of funds allocated by the Energy Act of 2020.

Fusion has long been viewed as a potential zero-carbon source of energy that could serve as a tool in the fight against climate change.

Unlike nuclear fission, which obtains its energy from splitting atoms, fusion does not produce significant amounts of radioactive waste.

For an in-depth look at Zap Energy’s technology, you can read the company’s most recent research paper in Fusion Science and Technology.

Helion Energy, another Everett-based company, is also attempting to produce electricity from fusion for the commercial market.

Kenmore Air offering flight from Everett to Victoria

PAINE FIELD — Kenmore Air is now offering a scheduled international flight from Paine Field in Everett to Victoria International Airport in British Columbia, Canada. Service from the Snohomish County-owned airport began May 25.

“We are thrilled to take another step in expanding transportation connectivity to the San Juans, offering one-stop service to seven Alaska Airlines west coast destinations through Everett’s Paine Field and daily service to Victoria,” said David Gudgel, Kenmore Air President.

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.