Commercial nuclear fuel rods are unloaded from a cask inside Idaho National Laboratory’s Hot Fuel Examination Facility hot cell in this file photo. (Courtesy of Idaho National Laboratory)
The future of nuclear power in Idaho is looking strong. The Gem State recently took two important steps demonstrating its commitment to unleashing the potential of nuclear energy. These efforts are working hard alongside other governmental and private partners to meet the need and promote Idaho as a viable state to fill the energy demand of the future.
The first step was taken on Sept. 18 as Idaho released the Advanced Nuclear Strategic Framework. This is a comprehensive plan to guide Idaho in its pursuit of nuclear energy excellence. This means nuclear energy in Idaho that is safe, reliable, affordable, sustainable and secure. The plan lays out the role that the Idaho National Laboratory can play, the importance of educational partnerships in research and workforce development, and the need for regional partnerships on a governmental and private level.
Other points from the plan include creating a State Energy Fund to support nuclear development and using the state’s newly established Strategic Permitting, Efficiency, and Economic Development Council to help streamline project approvals. It also highlights the inter-governmental collaboration of the framework that was formed by the Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources and Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance.
The second step taken was on Sep. 22, when Gov. Brad Little announced the formation of the Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force. This task force’s chief purpose is to “assess, recommend, and support strategies that advance Idaho’s leadership in nuclear energy innovation, deployment, and workforce development.” This includes making recommendations on matters such as “spent nuclear fuel, fuel creation, enhancement, and minimization, opportunities for Idaho to collaborate with other nuclear-advanced states.”
The task force will be composed of no more than 20 members appointed by the governor, including elected officials, government agencies, INL representatives, private sector stakeholders and educational representatives. This replaces and improves the existing Leadership in Nuclear Energy Commission, or LINE, which was put into place by Gov. Butch Otter in 2012. A lot has changed in the industry since then, and this new group helps to prepare Idaho to lead the way.
Gov. Little commented: “As we usher in President Donald Trump’s Nuclear Renaissance, my executive order refreshes our efforts and empowers a new group of leaders dedicated to ensuring Idaho continues to lead the way in nuclear innovation, energy security, and economic growth.”
The setting for his announcement was fitting, as it occurred during the Western Governors’ Association’s first workshop of “Energy Superabundance: Unlocking Prosperity in the West.” This meeting was a gathering of government officials, academics, and private sector stakeholders to harness the energy and momentum of the nuclear excitement into plans for tangible progress.
INL Director John Wagner stated at the workshop: “We’re seeing an intersection of multiple factors come together that I haven’t seen in my entire career. It’s been more than 50 years since we brought a new reactor online at [INL], that’s all changing. In the past three weeks alone, we’ve seen groundbreakings for three new reactors — two in Idaho and one in Utah with Valar Atomics — and there will be many more.”
The main sentiment taken from the energy summit is that our region is uniquely positioned to propel the country into a nuclear-powered future. States like Idaho have identified and worked with allies on nearly every level of government, private sector stakeholders, and educational partners to efficiently brainstorm the advancement of nuclear energy. One example is a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Wyoming, Idaho and Utah to collaborate on building out the nuclear infrastructure in the region.
These steps by Idaho come at a time when the federal government has been promoting and advancing policies that seek to facilitate a nuclear energy boom. The Trump administration is making moves to speed up nuclear permitting processes and expand funding for scientific and technological studies.
It is exciting to see that Idaho is also preparing and planning for the needed workforce, pushing resources toward groundbreaking research, and looking for ways to partner with stakeholders to build the needed infrastructure to unleash nuclear energy in America.
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