Senate approves energy bill; INL benefits with nuclear research

The Senate has approved a wide-ranging energy bill that would promote a variety of energy sources and speed federal approval of projects to export liquefied natural gas to Europe and Asia.

The Idaho National Laboratory will also benefit from the bill.

Senators backed the measure, 85 to 12, the first ambitious energy bill approved by the Senate in nearly a decade.

The bill would boost renewables such as solar and wind power, as well as natural gas, hydropower and geothermal energy. It also would update building codes to increase efficiency, strengthen electric-grid safety standards and reauthorize a half-billion dollar conservation fund that protects parks and other public lands.

A media release from Senator Mike Crapo said the bill will allownew public-private nuclear research partnerships at the INL.

It will allow the U.S. Department of Energy to partner with private innovators to test advanced reactor technologies.

Crapo said the bill also directs the DOE and Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish the National Nuclear Innovation Center, to be based at the INL.

It now must be reconciled with a House-passed bill that boosts fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the House measure.