Idaho takes another step towards its nuclear future

Idaho has been making major moves to attract and develop nuclear energy in the Gem State. Earlier this year, Governor Little created the Idaho Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force. 

Little announced, “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.”

Governor Little’s most recent effort is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) from his Office of Energy and Mineral Resources to gather the input of the sector and stakeholders to push towards a nuclear future.

State officials said in a press release, “Idaho’s long-standing infrastructure, skilled workforce, and policy leadership positions the state as an ideal destination for companies seeking to invest in nuclear development, (The Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources) is eager to learn how Idaho can become the preferred location for nuclear development.”

The RFI seeks to do multiple things within the intersection of the nuclear industry and the state of Idaho. One of these is to “identify key factors influencing site selection decisions.”  A known standard is to prioritize safety, and therefore build nuclear facilities away from fault lines, cities, and areas prone to wildlife and other hazards. Using GIS systems helps with this planning. But there are still some unknowns as to what else the nuclear industry is looking for.

Idaho has a mostly rural layout, and this RFI can propel the state forward in being a nuclear leader. Similarly, another agenda item sought to “gather input on potential barriers to investment.”

The RFI also aims to “evaluate workforce and talent needs.” This aspect can become largely overlooked. The first step is deploying enough workers to build and construct power plants. At its peak, this could require up to 9,000 workers. Once up and running, a facility usually employs between 500 to 800 workers.

This workforce has to be incredibly diverse. It includes employees in the skilled trades, such as welders, pipefitters, and mechanics, but also technical workers such as engineers, chemists, and radiation safety officers. Each power plant generally spends approximately $100 million a year on a reactor’s labor force. In current plants, employers are finding that the nuclear energy workforce is aging.

A recent report found that nuclear energy’s workforce has 23% fewer workers under the age of 30 than the overall energy workforce. The U.S Department of Energy stated, “A pipeline of young talent will be essential as the U.S. nuclear industry seeks to commercialize and deploy next-generation advanced reactors in the coming decades.”

Finally, the RFI directs the task force to “explore partnership opportunities with state agencies and institutions.” This has long been a strong suit for the state. Having the Idaho National Laboratory, the nation’s leading nuclear laboratory, in its backyard, the state is perfectly positioned to use resources within the private and public sectors to maximize its nuclear advancement. From inter-governmental collaboration to partnering with university research institutions, there is a lot of room for growth and innovation for the nuclear sector in Idaho.

Federal regulatory processes could certainly be made better, but Idaho recognizes that it needs to do its part as well. Throughout the nation, states are recruiting energy plants to do business in their state. With skyrocketing demands on our energy grid, states are competing against each other to land nuclear power investments.

As nuclear energy continues to evolve, it’s obvious that we have only seen the beginning of what this power source can provide. Idaho's RFI is continued proof that the Gem State is playing for keeps when it comes to attracting nuclear investors.