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Idaho is one of five states selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as a potential host site for new Nuclear Lifestyle Innovation Campuses, federal officials announced Tuesday
The Idaho Capital Sun reports, the campuses are designed to strengthen and modernize the country’s nuclear fuel cycle. Officials say they will create thousands of jobs, expand manufacturing and attract financial investment
The other four states selected as potential host sites are Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Louisiana
“These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs and be crucial to unleashing America’s nuclear renaissance,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a written statement. “The innovative concept is a direct result of President (Donald) Trump’s leadership and ambitious directives to restore the domestic nuclear fuel cycle and get America’s nuclear industry growing again.”
Wright signed memorandums of understanding with Idaho and the other four states to continue exploring options to host one of the new nuclear campuses, the U.S. Department of Energy said in a press release issued Tuesday
Idaho Gov. Brad Little and other elected officials welcomed the selection. They touted the presence of Idaho National Laboratory in eastern Idaho and said they would work hard to help Idaho be selected to host the new nuclear campus
“Idaho is honored to have been selected as one of five initial contenders to further explore the development of Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” Little said in a written statement. “For more than 70 years, Idaho has been at the forefront of nuclear innovation and we are grateful to President Trump, Secretary Wright, and the U.S. Department of Energy for recognizing our unmatched expertise and legacy. We look forward to working with (the Department of Energy) to continue advancing every stage of the nuclear lifecycle, strengthening our nation’s energy security, creating good-paying jobs and ensuring Idaho remains the home of America’s nuclear renaissance.”
The new nuclear campuses would be designed for a variety of nuclear activities, including fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel and the final disposition of used nuclear fuel, U.S. Department of Energy officials said
Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke said Idaho would make a great host for a nuclear campus
“Idaho has been synonymous with nuclear innovation since the earliest days of the atomic age, and today’s announcement is a recognition of decades of work by the scientists, engineers and communities at Idaho National Laboratory and across our state,” Bedke said in a written statement. “This is an opportunity to build on that legacy, bringing new investment, new jobs, and new technology to Idaho while helping restore America’s leadership in the full nuclear fuel cycle.”
“As this process moves forward, we’ll continue working with our federal and local partners to make sure Idaho is positioned to make the most of this opportunity for our workforce, our economy and our national security,” Bedke added
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