The U.S. Department of Energy has taken a higher interest in a $1 billion nuclear science project, bringing it one step closer to MSU's campus.
The Rare Isotope Accelerator, or RIA, was recently moved to "Critical Decision Zero" status by the department. The heightened status means nuclear scientists from MSU and other institutions will begin to develop the blueprints for the facility.
The RIA would help scientists look into the origins of physical compounds on a highly microscopic level, which could lead to advancements in all aspects of life - from medical breakthroughs to environmental research.
"The Rare Isotope Accelerator will offer incredible promise for scientific advancements in nuclear research, medicine and national security, as well as advancing our knowledge of the origin of the universe," MSU President M. Peter McPherson said in his State of the University address Tuesday. "We will continue to work hard to bring RIA to Michigan."
But the heightened status doesn't mean the project is a go, said U.S. Department of Energy spokesman Tom Welch.
"The critical decision status means that the Rare Isotope Accelerator has been identified as something that the Department of Energy needs," he said. "But it doesn't imply approval or funding.
"You could see it as a first part of a process. It doesn't imply we're going to construct it."
Howard Gobstein, MSU's associate vice president of governmental affairs in Washington, D.C., said, even though there's a level of uncertainty, the Department of Energy's interest is a positive move.
"They have established that RIA is of 'mission need' to the Department of Energy," he said. "This is definitely a very good sign."
If the project becomes a reality, MSU and the Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago could be potential host sites for RIA.
"This is a necessary beginning to the whole process, and it's going to probably take several years, but we're hoping for a site decision in 2004," Gobstein said.
Gobstein said it's important for the department to choose quickly or they might lose interest in RIA.
"We're concerned that, given budget constraints, that other projects might gain in the priority," he said.
Catherine Foster, spokeswoman for Argonne National Laboratory, said the race between MSU and the laboratory is nonexistent at this point.
"(The status) doesn't have anything to do with where, it doesn't have anything to do with the design, it doesn't have anything to do with funding," she said. "It's a commitment to move forward."
James Barrett, president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said the project - wherever it ends up - will benefit the nation scientifically as well as economically.
"The long-term benefits also include the potential of spin-off business in Michigan, including the creation of new companies and the enhancement of products, processes and technologies in existing companies," he said in a statement. "The activities of RIA itself, plus the economic energy that can be created around it, would contribute a cornerstone for the knowledge economy that Michigan aspires to build for the future."
Staff writer Emily Bingham contributed to this report
Amy Bartner can be reached at bartnera@msu.edu
