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Gov. Gregoire arrives in Ireland, kicks off week-long trade mission

For Immediate Release: July 5, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire arrived in Dublin, Ireland, kicking of a week-long trade mission to promote Washington products and companies, increase foreign investment, and ultimately create new jobs in Washington state.

�Last summer�s trade mission immediately put people to work,� Gregoire said. �We know these trips, and the face-to-face meetings with executives from around the world work to improve our economy. We have a packed week with a heavy focus on aerospace, green energy and technology � sectors that continue to have tremendous growth potential in our state.�

Gregoire met with the delegation yesterday in Dublin, before traveling to Greenore, Ireland, where she toured OpenHydro�s tidal energy manufacturing facility. In 2009, the Snohomish County Public Utilities District selected OpenHydro to design, build and install two marine turbines at a tidal energy pilot plant in Admiralty Inlet, west of Whidbey Island.

�Projects like these have made Washington state a leader in clean technology and renewable energy,� Gregoire said. �And it�s these projects that make other companies want to invest here � knowing that our state has groundbreaking research and development, and reliable, affordable energy. That has been a selling point that has attracted companies from around the world to Washington state. I�m pleased that Snohomish County is pursuing this new innovative energy source, and look forward to welcoming OpenHydro to our state.�

�We're excited to be leading the way in the research of this innovative energy source with our other Washington state partners - Sound & Sea Technology, the University of Washington and Demand Energy,� said PUD General Manager Steve Klein. �This serves as another tool to boost economic development in the region, address climate change and attain energy independence. Our pilot project with OpenHydro provides an invaluable means to evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental viability of tidal energy in the Puget Sound.�

�Our state�s 2012 Energy Strategy makes it clear that breakthrough innovation is required to solve our carbon emission problems while maintaining the competitive energy prices that have propelled Washington�s economy,� said Commerce Director Rogers Weed. �It�s great to see Snohomish PUD and its partners engaging globally to find and bring the best low carbon energy solutions to Washington State.�

Prior to her tour, Gregoire added her signature to a memorandum of understanding between the Irish Maritime Energy and Resource Cluster and the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center. The center is a Department of Energy funded partnership between Oregon State University and the University of Washington, focusing primarily on wave and tidal energy research. The MOU is a formal agreement to share information and research that will help both organizations as they pursue new wave and tidal energy development projects.

Gregoire yesterday also met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny � who discussed with the governor the importance of Washington state businesses having a presence in Ireland. Many of Washington state�s most influential companies, including Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks have offices located in Ireland.

Today, Gregoire met Irish Senator Katherine Zappone, who was born in Spokane and is now a member of the Irish Parliament. Zappone spent many years in Seattle - attending St. Luke's Grade School, Holy Names High School, and Seattle University. She later attended University College Dublin, and has been living in Ireland since 1983. Zappone is a tireless advocate for equal rights, and is currently appealing to the Irish Supreme Court to have her marriage to her long-time partner recognized in Ireland.

Gregoire and members of the delegation today also met with Ireland�s Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.

Following her meetings with Zappone and Bruton, Gregoire and members of the aerospace delegation traveled to Belfast, where they met with executives at Bombardier. Gregoire urged the plane manufacturer to hire Washington state companies to build parts and other components of Bombardier�s airplanes. Washington is now home to 720 aerospace supply companies, developing everything from the tires planes land on to in-flight entertainment systems.

�Silicon Forest Electronics builds circuit boards for power supplies destined for Bombardier aircraft, and we supply a host of other products for other aerospace and military original equipment manufacturers and prime contractors, such as electronic assemblies for cockpit security and terrorist mitigation for Airbus� said Frank Nichols, President/CEO, Silicon Forest Electronics. �We welcome this opportunity to discuss further specific requirements and find manufacturing solutions that bring our high quality, AS-9100C, work to more of the aerospace market.�

Tomorrow, Gregoire will conduct a similar meeting with executives at Airbus, as well as tour Electroimpact�s engineering support office in Broughton, Wales. Electroimpact is headquartered in Mukilteo, and develops specialized machinery used by Boeing, Airbus and other major aerospace companies to build their products.

Visit Gregoire�s online travel journal that includes travel notes from the governor and the rest of the delegation, the itinerary and photos of the trade mission. Access the travel journal by following the link on her homepage: www.governor.wa.gov.