By Susan Gager

NEWPORT, Ore. -- Scientists in Newport are getting ready to go high tech.  The Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) in Newport anticipates funding for a brand new marine science mammal and genome center.

Modern research needed at HMSC in Newport has outgrown its current facilities.   Nearly 45 years since a new addition, they finally got the thumbs up for funding from the Oregon legislature.

The new building would be home to both the Marine Mammal and Marine Genome Center.  Centers they say are beneficial for a wider range of educational disciplines, research opportunities pivotal to the state of Oregon, and job growth.  They anticipate a potential of up to 100 jobs would be added with the new building.

One of their research goals is to figure out how mammals are reacting to offshore renewable energy.  They say its ocean management and conservation 101, its the type of research important to moving Oregon along in the scientific community. 

But a new facility has to be built to house these ambitious research projects.

The last step towards approval of the new facility is funding from the federal government, funding the director says he is confident he'll receive.