Durbin, Foster Applaud Opening of Argonne Energy Sciences Building
[ARGONNE] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today attended the dedication ceremony for Argonne National Laboratory’s new Energy Sciences Building. Construction on the $95 million building was funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science Laboratories Infrastructure Program. The facility is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building.
“With its caliber of work, quality of people and boldness of mission, Argonne is one of Illinois’ greatest assets,” Durbin said. “The breakthroughs that have happened here demonstrate why government should prioritize high-value research and laboratories that help America create jobs in the growth industries of tomorrow. If the United States is to remain a leader in the 21st century, we need to support the science and innovation that will address our growing energy and environmental concerns. Investments like the Energy Sciences Building will help our country solve its growing energy concerns, create jobs and maintain our position as a world leader in science and innovation.”
“As a scientist and businessman who spent more than two decades working at a national lab, I know firsthand the value of investing in scientific research and development,” said Foster. “The work done at Argonne not only supports our local economy, but it is critical to our nation’s long-term economic success. Funding scientific research and development results in one of the highest return-on-investments our nation can make. It is essential we invest in our national labs to preserve our global competitive advantage.”
Research at the Energy Sciences Building will focus on the development of reliable, safe and long-lived battery systems; efficient and environmentally friendly processes for creating new fuels; and transformational methods for solar energy production.
The building was designed with sustainability in mind. It uses natural materials and energy efficiency architecture to help Argonne attain the water and efficiency targets set by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
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