Economy & Jobs

Regional and local economies benefit from the continued DOE presence in Oak Ridge.  The ORR is integral to the current DOE mission in Oak Ridge, and the jobs and positive socioeconomic impact of that presence.  In addition to providing a safety and security buffer for existing DOE facilities, the ORR’s diverse landforms and size offer options to DOE for siting in Oak Ridge future facilities to serve newly identified national energy and defense requirements within the DOE mission.  Without the presence of a large tract of land within the safety and security buffer provided by ORR, DOE could not have sited the Spallation Neutron Source facility in Oak Ridge.  Reducing the size of ORR would reduce the ability for Oak Ridge to attract large, job-generating federal projects relating to DOE's and other federal agency missions.