The U.S. Department of Energy's
Brookhaven National Laboratory announced today that it is beginning construction
of the conventional facilities at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II),
a project that will advance energy research for the nation and create hundreds
of jobs for Long Island over the next several years. Energy Secretary Steven
Chu visited the laboratory earlier this year and announced $150 million from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the facility, some of which went
towards accelerating the construction of NSLS-II.
Artist's rendering of the National Synchrotron Light Source II.
“The NSLS-II will allow the scientific community to focus on some of
our most important scientific challenges while creating jobs and promoting a
clean, affordable energy economy,” said Secretary Chu. “Pioneering
research will remain critical if the U.S. is to stay a global leader when it
comes to innovation and competitiveness.”
NSLS-II will be an advanced, highly optimized, third-generation medium energy
storage ring that will provide sophisticated, new tools for discovery-class
science – science that will enhance national and energy security and help
drive abundant, safe, and clean energy technologies. The x-ray brightness and
resolution of NSLS-II will be world leading, exceeding that of any other light
source currently existing or under construction, and it will be 10,000 times
brighter than the present light source at Brookhaven Lab.
“NSLS-II will provide the world's finest capabilities for x-ray imaging,
with the ability to detect single atoms,” said Brookhaven National Laboratory
Director Samuel Aronson. “It will provide advanced tools for discovery-class
science in many fields including condensed matter physics, materials science,
chemistry, and biology. Discoveries made at NSLS-II will enhance national and
energy security and help drive abundant, safe, and clean energy technologies.”
Torcon, Inc., a New Jersey firm with many projects in New York State, has been
chosen to construct the building that will house the accelerator ring, the largest
component of the machine. Torcon estimates that 90 percent of the total construction
contract cost of more than $170 million will be spent directly with Long Island
contractors and suppliers. This phase of the facility’s construction is
expected to last through 2012.