Idaho’s the ‘alpha and omega of nuclear’: Gov. Little pitches Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus at Arco ‘Capital for a Day’ event

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) – Governor Brad Little and Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke are making a big push to bring a massive new nuclear innovation campus to eastern Idaho.

At Thursday's “Capital for a Day” event in Arco, state leaders tapped right into Arco’s status as the world’s first atomic-powered city to make their case.

“That's who we are. I mean, we're the alpha and the omega of the entire nuclear industry, starting right here in this town and right out there [at Idaho National Laboratory]," Little said.

During the town hall, top elected officials and leaders from 10 state agencies took questions directly from the community.

When asked about the biggest economic opportunity in the state or region, Little didn’t hesitate to name Idaho’s bid for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus.

"We know how to handle the fuel, we know all the different reactors that have been developed, and, of course, the nuclear Navy would not exist if it wasn't for Butte County," Little said.

The campus could “create 25,000 jobs, attract up to $50 billion in capital investment and generate $10 to $20 billion in state and local revenues,” according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The campus would facilitate the entire lifecycle of nuclear fuel – including fuel development, nuclear reactors, reprocessing fuel, interim storage, and potentially long-term fuel storage.

“President Trump is calling for quadrupling the amount of electricity coming from the nuclear sector," said Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke. "But in his defense, President Biden asked for a three-fold increase. It is now nonpartisan to expand nuclear energy, and that creates an opportunity for us here."

Idaho is in competition with six other states for the project.

Bedke emphasized that Idaho is reluctant to accept nuclear waste from other states, and that the 1995 settlement agreement is still in force, although it could be modified in the future.


“At some point, someone in the United States is going to have to tackle the permanent repository issue, and we're willing to look into that, but we're not going to do it adjacent to or through or over our aquifer – period," Bedke said. "So that limits some of our opportunities, although Butte County has some places that would qualify."

The Department of Energy is expected to announce three Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus finalists by the end of this year.

Additionally, Little recognized Jeanne Keller with an "Idahoans Brightest Star" award for her work with "Wish Upon a Star," bringing Christmas to 36 families and 95 children across Butte County in 2025.

State leaders also answered community questions on water, housing affordability, Medicaid work requirements, and transportation during today’s stop in Arco.