Rep. Hultgren Pledges Support to Keep Fermilab Funded

A new breed of particle accelerator component being tested at could bring hundreds of new manufacturing jobs to the Fox Valley in the next few years, Fermilab officials announced today.

And U.S. Rep. Randall Hultgren (R-14th) pledged his support to keep that project—and those jobs—from falling to federal budget cuts. To see a full photo gallery of his visit to Fermilab, click .

“The work being done at Fermilab must continue and grow,” Hultgren asserted at a press conference after touring the research lab where scientists are experimenting with super-conducting radio frequency cavities that could power Fermilab’s planned Project X accelerator. “My next goal is to make sure your funding stays here.”

Hultgren said he and other Illinois congressmen have been lobbying in Washington, D.C., to maintain Fermilab’s annual budget allocation, especially after a House 2011 budget bill last month called for a 20 percent across-the-board cut in all nonmilitary domestic programs. That cut would have forced Fermilab to shut down all its particle accelerators; suspend many of its ongoing experiments; furlough all staff for two months; and lay off about 400 people, said director Pier Oddone at that time.

“As far as I’m concerned, that cut isn’t on the table,” Hultgren stated. “It would have a global impact. It’s not going to happen if I have anything to do with it.”

He did, however, admit that Fermilab might have to accept some short-term budget cuts until the economy improves.

Keeping Fermilab in business would help the Fox Valley economy. A Canadian company is already opening a local facility to mass-produce SRF cavities for Fermilab. Pavac Energy Corp. officials hope to finalize the lease on a building in downtown Batavia this week, said operation manager Tim Ring.

“We’ll employ 10 people here for the first two years [until Project X is well under construction]. After that, there could be hundreds of jobs here as we expand production to supply long-term industrial applications of the research,” Ring explained.

Cabot Microelectronics, an international firm headquartered in Aurora, also expects to add jobs to its local polishing division once Project X gets off the ground. Cabot, which uses nanotechnology to polish integrated circuit fittings for cell phones and other small electronic gadgets, will polish the inside surfaces of the niobium SRF cavity cells.

“The inner surface needs to be nearly atomically perfect,” said Cabot chief technology officer Cliff Spiro. “An imperfection smaller than a grain of sand would cause a major disruption in the cavity’s operation.”

While Fermilab employees are still nervous about how Congress will handle the growing federal budget deficit, Oddone said Hultgren’s support is raising morale.

“He has a very positive message,” Oddone commented. “He’s been very good about understanding what Fermilab is and what we do here. He’s been here several times, even before the election. We’re very encouraged by that.”

Oddone also expressed confidence that Hultgren can persuade his fellow House members to continue funding Fermilab. Hultgren sits on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

“He’s very articulate and has made a strong case for what we do. He may have broad influence in Congress,” Oddone noted.

“Rep. Hultgren let me know he’s engaged in the process,” said Fermilab scientist Lance Cooley, who heads the SRF cavity project, just after the press conference. “He’s looking hard at what the priorities are instead of approaching the issue politically.”

The latest federal 2010 budget extension will expire April 8. At that time, Congress must either pass a third extension, which will continue to freeze Fermilab’s budget at last year’s level, or approve a 2011 budget that might include cuts to Fermilab’s allocation.

“We will just have to wait and hope,” Oddone said.