JLab ground-breaking, a unique asset

(l-r) Delegate Glen Oder of the 94th District; DOE Jefferson Site Office Manager Jim Turi; Hampton University President William Harvey; former Jefferson Lab Director Christoph Leemann; U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia’s 1st District; Jefferson Lab Director Hugh Montgomery; U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia’s 3rd District; former Jefferson Lab Director Hermann Grunder; Gene Henry, Associate Director of the DOE's Office of Science for Nuclear Physics; Newport News Mayor Joe Frank; Delegate Phil Hamilton of the 93rd District; and Virginia State Senator John Miller of the 1st District. (JLab photos)

On April 14, the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (also known as Jefferson Lab or JLab) celebrated a groundbreaking for its 12 GeV upgrade. Elected officials from all levels of government in addition to U.S. Department of Energy officials (including all previous Jeff Lab directors) were in attendance to participate in this grand event. The 12 GeV upgrade is a $310 million project was given an early start thanks to a recent infusion of $65 million in stimulus funds.

When completed in 2015, the 12 GeV upgrade will double the power of the power of the lab’s electron beam accelerator and allow for construction of a fourth experimental hall. The increased power and capacity will allow for more in-depth study of the subatomic particles quarks and gluons. Considered the building blocks of matter, such particles are the focus of work at Jeff Lab, and the additional power will make Jeff Lab a unique asset in the world.

Hampton Roads Partnership Board members Newport News Mayor Joe Frank, Hampton University President William Harvey, and Jeff Lab Director Hugh Montgomery all spoke at the event.

For the complete story: http://www.jlab.org/news/releases/2009/groundbreaking.html