Energy Northwest recognized for efforts to hire veterans

35% of Energy Northwest's new hires in 2016 were veterans and Thursday the company was honored for its track record.

Vice President Brent Ridge says about 300 of the just over 1,000 employees are veterans.

"For us as a nuclear power plant, from the Navy in particular, they bring nuclear experience, they can come in and past our tests and our training programs and they are really integral parts of our team," says Ridge.

Ridge says hiring veterans has always been important but just over the past decade they've ramped up the effort to hire, train and retain vets.

"Today we have folks from the Air force, the Navy, the Army, the Marines, all across our organization and they bring discipline, organization and work ethic that is so important in our industry," says Ridge.

The award is part of the state Employment Security Department's effort to find jobs for military members. 12 companies from across the state received the award for the 2016 year.