PNNL

Energy Secretary Rick Perry will visit the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory today. This is the fifth national lab he's toured and has previously said the DOE labs collectively are America's crown jewels of science and technology.

At PNNL, he will learn how the lab is helping to modernize the nations' electric grid to improve reliability, resiliency and security; researching better batteries; designing and building the world's most sensitive radiation detection systems; and developing technology to protect our ports, borders and troops.

At one location, the Secretary will suit up and be taken 40 feet below ground to the Shallow Underground Laboratory which shields against naturally occurring radioactive backgrounds including cosmic rays. The facility houses some of the world's most sensitive radiation detection systems and research and development capabilities for environmental, natural security and fundamental physics applications such as the search for dark matter.

Following several other briefings, Perry will speak to a large group of employees representing more than 4,000 scientists, engineers, project managers and staff members.

Perry will be accompanied by Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon. Learn more about the Perry visit and check in for photos as they are posted.