Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10191993 - S.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Sunne Wright McPeak Costa DATE: October 19, 1993 40 County SUBJECT: Siting of National Wind Tunnel Complex at NASA Ames SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Support the siting of the national wind tunnel complex in the Bay Area at NASA Ames Research Center and authorize the Chairman of the Board to sign a letter to President Clinton in support of the project. BACKGROUND: See attached report. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON 9 y y 3 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED '-`t- OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE/-1, /SHOWN�. CC: County Administrator ATTESTED /' 1, / /"2 3 Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and Canty AdminWatot M352/7-03 , BY DEPUTY C PRELIMINARY BRIEFING PAPER for BAY AREA ECONOMIC FORUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS on PROPOSED NASA WIND TUNNEL COMPLEX NASA is proposing to build a$2 billion wind tunnel complex designed to serve the commercial aircraft market. The complex will be built at an existing NASA location somewhere in the U.S. It is important to the economic vitality of this region that this new facility be sited at the NASA/ Ames Research Center at Moffet Field in Santa Clara County. It is also important to the country since this is the region which has the strongest technical jusufication as the best location for an advanced wind tunnel complex. The Bay Area is the region which has the industrial structure already in place to take the greatest advantage of the advanced technology which will be developed through the new wind-tunnel complex. - Ames Research Center lies in the midst of Silicon Valley, which is renowned as the center of high tech research and production. The synergism that will exist between the Silicon Valley industrial community and the national wind tunnel facility will result in benefits beyond those that can be expected to flow from a "stand alone" facility sited elsewhere. The Bay Area is the region which has the physical structure already in place to not only support the national wind tunnel facility, but also to build on the results of its research: - World class research universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, San Francisco - Eminent national research laboratories, and a leading force in technology transfer: Stanford University Office of Technology Licensing; University of California Office of Technology Transfer; Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Sandia National Laboratories; Stanford Linear Accelerator; and NASA Ames Research Center. - A highly skilled workforce -- the Bay Area has one of the highest proportions of scientists, engineers, and computer expertise in the nation. - The Bay Area has the highest density of venture capital firms in the world -- funding for new technologies can be accomplished here better than anywhere else in the country. Failure to site the facility here would be another economic blow to the region -- specifically, the probable downgrading of the existing NASA facility if the complex is sited elsewhere would result in existing job losses, eliminate future job gains, and eliminate the multiplier benefits an important research facility provides industries through technology transfer opportunities. Bay Area Economic Forum Board of Directors NASA Wind Tunnel Briefing Paper Page Two A number of other states are making a well-organized, aggressive push to bring the complex to their area. It is imperative that the Bay Area immediately carry out a coordinated, effective regional action strategy to influence the siting decision for the Ames location. Description of Project $2 Billion new National Wind Tunnel complex - Facility will contain one high-speed transonic tunnel and one subsonic (low speed) tunnel (each tunnel costing approximately $1 billion to construct) - Facility essential for development of next generation of commercial jet aircraft - Is key component in federal government's renewed focus on aeronautics research - Is in response to increasingly effective competition from European airbus industry - The combined capability (flight condition simulation and productivity) of the proposed new wind tunnels would exceed existing capability in the world. Importance to Region Job Creation Construction phase - 6 years - creating approximately 2,000 construction jobs and about 6,000 additional support jobs Completed facility - additional 200 high tech jobs for direct operation of new facility (in addition to existing NASA/Ames 5,000 employees) and about 400 additional jobs in local community Critical Element in Reeion's Economic Vitality - This facility will be an important element in this region's overall strategy of enhancing our economic vitality by building on our existing and unique technological strengths. - The facility, and the jobs it represents, is a critical element in helping to offset the significant economic impact that the base closures will have on our regional economy. In 1993 round of closures, California sustained 88% of the reductions nation-wide -- 40% of which were in the Bay Area. If new wind tunnel complex is not sited at NASA Ames, it is probable that the existing activities at the Ames facility will be significantly reduced. Current information indicates that after the siting decision is made for the new facility, two out of the three existing wind tunnels in-the country will be slated for closure -- Ames is on the short list of potential sites for wind tunnel closures. Bay Area Economic Forum Board of Directors NASA Wind Tunnel Briefing Paper Pate Three - A downgrading of the Ames facility could have a domino effect on various industries in Santa Clara County and on the economy of the Bay Area as a whole. - Ames Research Center, and the NASA operated Moffett Field adjacent to Ames, are important catalysts for business, industry, and educational institutions throughout the Bay Area. - Ames has had a hi, -successful partnership with the U.S. commercial aircraft industry for over 40 years. Wind tunnels were placed at the Ames Research Center with the primary mission of supporting the development requirements of the aircraft industry. - Its comprehensive aeronautical research program provides industry with direct access to NASA's entire technical capability, including super computer facilities. - Among Bay Area's institutions who received largest awards from Ames in 1992 are: Stanford University, San Jose State University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Foothill College, SRI, and UC San Francisco. - NASA/Ames has the largest R&D budget in Silicon Valley. - Ames has an annual budget over $700 million - it spends more than $500 million in the Bay Area each year. Ames Research Center has the potential for becoming the center of a "mini-cluster" that can spawn new businesses and technologies. This mini-cluster effect is analogous to the economic growth which was sparked by the cyclotron projects at UC Berkeley several decades ago. The Forum's executive committee has targeted the wind tunnel complex as an urgent immediate action project under our current program - "competing as a knowledge-based economy." (Attached is a copy of a letter which the Forum had hand-delivered to President Clinton when he visited Alameda in August.) v Bay Area Economic Forum Board of Directors NASA Wind Tunnel Briefing Paper Page Four Primary Competitors Tennessee - Arnold Engineering Development Center There are strong advocates for siting the wind tunnel complex in Tennessee. Tennessee has a long history of successful economic marketing. Arnold, at present, is a Department of Defense facility. It is our under- standing that Tennessee, supported by DOD, has succeeded in passing legislation that would redirect Arnold's current mission to favor civilian aviation activities. They have lined up several aerospace firms in long-term agreements to use the facilities current and future at Arnold on a preferential basis. We have been informed that the Tennessee delegation has formed a coalition with the delegations from Alabama and Georgia to solicit support for siting the wind tunnels in Tennessee. The location of the complex is highly dependent on power costs. To be competitive, the NASA Ames Research Center must show power costs similar to those available from TVA. PG&E is working with Ames to develop a competitive solution. Other Competitor States - Virginia (Langely Center) is another strong competitor - Washington (Seattle), West Virginia, and Montana may submit proposals. Timing for Decision Process There are many, conflicting rumors regarding when, how, and who will make the siting decision. The conflicting rumors on timing are lulling some of the Bay Area's supporters into believing there is no urgency on this issue and no reason to aggressively advocate at this time regarding the importance of this issue for this region. - Our information indicates that the decision could be made before the end of 1993. - NASA is an independent agency reporting to the President. The message regarding the importance of the new wind tunnel complex to this region must be made to the President, and to other high admininstrative officers who may have input into the decision-making process. 4 + Bay Area Economic Forum Board of Directors NASA Wind Tunnel Briefing Paper Pace Five If the Bay Area believes this wind tunnel project is important to its economic vitality, it must immediately carry out a coordinated, effective regional action strategy to influence the siting decision for the Ames location at Moffett Field. Efforts to Influence Siting Decision for Ames Location California Con;ressional Delegation Efforts There is unanimous, b,i-partisan support for bringing the project to this region. - Members of California delegation met with White House officials in early August and stressed the importance of this project to the Bay Area. - California delegation sent letter to President- letter signed by all members of delegation (copy attached). Regional Effort The Bay Area has established a regional task force to develop and carry out an action strategy. The Bay Area Economic Forum is serving as the umbrella agency for this effort. Because of the importance of this issue and the need to develop a strong advocacy strategy in order to counteract the efforts of the competitor sites, the task force will hire the required expertise to develop the overall strategy and take charge of the implementation phase. Task force members to date are: City of San Jose, City of Sunnyvale, City of Mountain View, Santa Clara County Manufacturing Group, California Trade and Commerce Agency, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Bay Area Economic Forum, President of Bay Area Council, Executive Director of ABAG, Alameda County Economic Development Office, and Joint Venture: Silicon Valley. The task force is seeking additional active participants. 10/7/93