Moses Lake Makes Forbes List

Forbes Magazine names Moses Lake 8th fastest-growing small town in America. Article

Gov. Gregoire says BMW's Moses Lake factory may double in size, jobs

(Headline in Seattle Times this morning.)

SEATTLE —
A new carbon fiber plant being built in Moses Lake could become the largest facility of its kind in the world because of strong demand for the composites by German carmaker BMW AG, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Friday.

Check out the full story here.

The Governor is in Germany hobnobbing with BMW. They believe all vehicles will be made of carbon fiber in the near future.

When you read between the lines of the statements BMW has made about this project, you get the sense that:

- BMW sees carbon fiber as the material of the future,

- BMW is developing a core competency and infrastructure for carbon fiber, of which the Moses Lake plant will be a significant part, and

- BMW's vision may go beyond using this stuff just for its own vehicles; it may envision selling carbon fiber to other car makers and maybe even to other industries as well.

In other words, carbon fiber is the building material of the 21st century, and Moses Lake will be a carbon fiber capital of the world. Exciting!

Grapes

The vines won't be mature for a couple more years, so I snip the fruit clusters in early summer so they don't divert energy from the vine. But I left a few to ripen, so I could taste 'em!

Vines in Full Glory

Last day of August. No more watering from now on. We'll drain the system and let the vines beging the process of lignification and hardening for winter.

BMW Plant Breaks Ground in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — BMW’s Megacity Vehicle begins in Moses Lake with a new carbon fiber plant, a company official said Wednesday.

“What you’re seeing today, are new and innovative ideas, to make carbon fiber for a car that’s never existed,” said Kenn Sparks, a media relations manager for BMW Group. “I think you would be proud to say that, in a lot of ways, it really does begin here.”

The groundbreaking for BMW/SGL Group’s carbon fiber plant was celebrated Wednesday with more than 90 dignitaries attending.

Hiring for about 80 permanent employees begins in 2011 and should increase to 200 full-time positions.

Farmer's Daughter

Quinci helped me out with some late pruning, and I gave her driving lessons around the property. Surreal to see her driving off in my pickup.

We had a great day.