Hastings visits REC
Lynne Lynch/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, left, during a tour of REC Silicon Thursday near Moses Lake. REC Director of Operations Russ Hamilton and REC silane operator Duane Kling are also shown.
GRANT COUNTY — During Rep. Doc Hastings’ tour of REC Silicon, company officials used time with the congressman to tell him about their concerns.
Although Hastings, R-Pasco, requested the tour of the expanding business, the company wanted to notify the congressman about REC’s application to become a foreign trade zone and potential carbon tax issues, said Tor Hartmann, REC’s senior vice president.
“We wanted to make him aware of that, (why) we’re interested and how we’re affected as an industry in his district,” Hartmann said.
REC wants to be recognized as part of the Port of Moses Lake’s foreign trade zone, which would eliminate duty taxes now paid on imported silicon metal, that is within polysilicon they export from the U.S., according the to company.
Silane gas produced at the plant is used to make computer parts, solar cells and LCD displays.
Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both D-Wash., are sending a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke backing REC’s foreign trade zone application, according to REC.
Another one of REC’s concerns involves a federal proposal that could tax industries and entities for the use of carbon-based fuels, Hartmann said.
The proposal is intended as a promotion so companies have more renewable energy, he said.
REC uses power that is predominantly hydro, he said. The company also uses some natural gas.
Hastings said he always likes to see the different enterprises in his Congressional district.
The district is largely agricultural-based and it’s good to diversify our economy, he said.
“When you see this huge construction going on, it obviously raised some questions,” Hastings commented.
He explained his tour of REC on Wednesday was simply for him to better understand the company and their situation.
Hastings, a ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources, said he’s a firm believer in having energy policy be as diverse as possible.
REC is highly into renewable power with solar, he said.
Hastings also toured Grant County PUD’s Quincy hydro chute project with PUD commissioners and staff.
“When we think of hydro, one thinks of major facilities such as Grand Coulee Dam, Wanapum Dam and Priest Rapids Dam,” he commented.