Intermountain Energy Summit Kicks Off
The Intermountain Energy Summit is kicking off its two-day conference in Idaho Falls.
Experts and energy companies from all over the country and all over the world are at this conference for a discussion on what the future of energy looks like.
“I believe that the IQ of our community is going to raise over the next couple of days,” said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper.
The first summit of its kind in Idaho Falls is bringing together more 300 leaders in the energy industry for a new type of conference.
“It’s a very significant gathering,” said Casper.
Big players in the energy field, like CH2MHill, and the INL are among the groups here show casing their expertise and bringing new ideas to tackle challenges in the field..
Huntington Ingalls Industries, a main builder of all the nuclear powered carriers and nuclear powered submarines for the U.S Navy, is here to look at how their skills in building complex ships with nuclear power plants fits in with the energy industry.
Frazer Lockhart with Huntington Ingalls said Idaho Falls is a place to explore options.
“Looking at wind power, smart grid, smart grid, we see many opportunities,” said Lockhart.
The opportunities bring a lot of questions to tackle at this conference.
“There are technical challenges, there are political challenges,” said Lockhart.
All of which mayor Casper says is not something that can be addressed in two days.
“What we’re trying to do is try to answer the question- where do we see ourselves as a region in the next 40 years,” said Casper.
On the other side of the room, an interactive booth showcasing what may be the future of commercial power with new types of LED lights.
“They’ll obviously be just as bright and save more on power energy, said Rich Sharp, with LALED.
LALED is one of the companies looking to take part in the discussion and shed some light on future of energy.
Governor C.L Butch Otter and senator Mike Crapo will also be speaking at the conference.
Mayor Casper said she hopes this will become an annual event.
