NCAR On Track to Build in Wyoming, Despite Budget Crunch

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The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO has announced their current budget woes will not affect the proposed Cheyenne, Wyoming supercomputing facility.  The new facility project is estimated to cost a cool $60 million.  NCAR has laid off nearly 100 people in the last year and deferred raises for many others.  All this, and they still have a budget shortfall of $10 million for next year.

We’ve had too many years of flat budgets with an increase in obligations,” NCAR Director Eric Barron said.

The Wyoming Legislature approved $21 million to go towards the Cheyenne facility back in 2007.  This will certainly help.  But…..

This project has been delayed because of the approval process in Washington, but that’s on track now,” [Randy Bruns, director of Cheyenne LEADS] said. “The supercomputer center in Wyoming is a long-term project. It’s going to be a year or more before they’re breaking ground.”

“This immediate thing, which is affecting the entire scientific community and government, is hopefully a short term thing. But it isn’t impacting this project.”

This is a real troubling situation for the folks at NCAR and the folks in the weather/climate community at large.

For more info, read the full article here.

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  1. […] The National Science Foundation has cleared the National Center for Atmospheric Research [NCAR] to go ahead with the design phase for its much awaited Cheyenne, Wyoming supercomputing facility.  Rest assured, there were many within the walls of NCAR sweating the decision.  Especially considering NCAR’s recent budget strife. […]