Richardson Applauds Transportation Center Success, Pledges Continued Support at Dedication Ceremony

Hundreds of enthusiastic Argonne employees joined DOE Secretary Bill Richardson on a warm fall morning to dedicate Argonne's Transportation Technology R&D Center (TTRDC).

The ceremony began with a short address by Larry Johnson, who heads the TTRDC. Johnson described the Center as a cooperative effort among staff of ten different divisions at Argonne to apply their specialized science and engineering knowledge to solve the nation's transportation problems. Interim Laboratory Director Frank Fradin introduced the new Secretary of Energy.

Secretary Richardson was greeted with a warm response from the Argonne crowd, and he responded in kind. He affirmed DOE's continuing support for the national laboratories, saying "We look to Argonne to use creativity to find solutions to the nation's transportation problems.I salute you as Secretary of Energy. You should be proud of what you do. We don't say thank you enough. Thank you - you are heroes."

The Secretary announced a new clean diesel technology developed by Argonne and several industrial partners: "This research is an excellent example of government-industry research, and the results are the first of many we expect from this transportation technology center."

Representatives of two of three industrial partners, who worked with Argonne staff to develop the clean diesel technology, also addressed the crowd: Kelly Jones, representing the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors, and Kevin Callaghan of Compact Membranes, Inc. Jones stated that EMD's partnership with Argonne is "already a success story.since the new engine research facility was dedicated a year ago, we have increased the power output of our diesel engine by 50% - from 4,000 to 6,000 horsepower."

Pandit Patil of DOE's Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies praised Argonne's "careful stewardship of national goals." He stated that without Argonne and its transportation staff "the progress we've made today would not have been forthcoming. Your contribution has made this partnership a success."

Those present cheered as Secretary Richardson waved a checkered flag to officially open the Center - where scientists and engineers from government and industry will build on two decades of transportation research to solve the transportation challenges of the future.