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Port of Moses Lake Delegation Advances W20 Water Project During D.C. Trip

  • 4 days ago
  • 2 min read

March 10, 2026 | Moses Lake, WA


Last week, a Port of Moses Lake delegation led by Commissioner Darrin Jackson, Grant County Commissioner Rob Jones, Director of Business Development, Richard Hanover, and President of Western Pacific Engineering & Survey, Kevin Richards, returned from meetings in Washington with new momentum for the W20 water project and progress on energy efforts.

Six men in coats stand smiling in a decorated hallway. One wears a cowboy hat. A "Palm Court Ballroom" sign is visible.
Left to right: Jim Anderson-Cook, Director of Grant County Development Services; Darrin Jackson, Port of Moses Lake Commissioner; Tom Gaines, County Administrator, Grant County; Richard Hanover, Director of Business Development; Kevin Richards, President, Western Pacific Engineering & Survey; Rob Jones, Grant County Commissioner.

The delegation met with staff from the offices of Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Patty Murray, Congressman Dan Newhouse, as well as officials from the Department of Energy (DOE), Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Water.


The W20 Project - an initiative with strong local and regional support — was the primary focus of the visit. The Port is planning to submit a Fiscal Year 2027 Congressionally Directed Spending request for $1 million through the offices of Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Dan Newhouse to fund planning and predesign work. Port officials said discussions are already underway about larger funding opportunities, including a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) request submitted by Port partner, Accelerate Strategies, seeking authorization of $25 million through the Army Corps of Engineers.


Three men in suits stand smiling by an office sign for Rep. Dan Newhouse. One wears a cowboy hat. An American flag is in the background.
Left to right: Darrin Jackson, Port of Moses Lake Commissioner; Rob Jones, Grant County Commissioner; Richard Hanover, Director of Business Development standing outside Representative Dan Newhouse’s Office in Washington D.C.

Commissioner Jackson said, “The support we received was remarkable, demonstrating

a collective dedication to improving our region's water infrastructure.”


Energy discussions remained high level, with the delegation meeting with the Department of Energy’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, which pledged to connect the Port with additional DOE contacts as the Port explores transmission options and federal funding for planning and feasibility work for Energy infrastructure with a focus on Geothermal and advanced nuclear opportunities.


“We’re still identifying the right technical and funding pathways. DOE has offered introductions that will help us evaluate those options,” Hanover said.


Four men in suits stand smiling by a sign for Assistant Secretary Land and Mineral Management. Checkerboard floor, blue flag in the background.
Left to right: Jason Demers, President & CEO, TC Resource Management Corp.; Kevin Richards, President, Western Pacific Engineering & Survey; Darrin Jackson, Port of Moses Lake Commissioner; Richard Hanover, Director of Business Development, standing outside the Assistant Secretary Land and Minerals Management office in the Department of the Interior Building, Washington D.C.

The Port held meetings with staff from Congressman Dan Newhouse, Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, the Department of Energy (Intergovernmental Affairs), and the Bureau of Land Management during the trip.


Jackson said, “From all of us at the Port of Moses Lake, we would like to extend sincerest gratitude to the offices of Senator Cantwell, Senator Murray, Congressman Dan Newhouse, DOE, BLM, USBR, and all federal partners for their time. We are pleased and grateful for the level of support we received.”


Learn more about the W20 water project at: https://www.w20project.org



 
 
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