INL marks 70th anniversary

Eastern Idaho marks a historic milestone Monday.

On February 18, 1949, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) decided to build the National Reactor Testing Station (NRTS) in eastern Idaho. Over that 70 year history, the Idaho National Laboratory, as it is now known, played a key role in development of the commercial nuclear energy industry while supporting the U.S. Naval nuclear propulsion program.

In 2005, Congress designed INL as the nation’s lead nuclear energy research and development laboratory.

Over 70 years, INL built and operated 52 original nuclear reactors. One of its roles is to extend the lives of commercial nuclear reactors that generate 19 percent of America’s electricity. Those plants create more than half of the nation’s carbon-free electricity.

INL has also become a world leader in cybersecurity and power grid resiliency.

“We are incredibly proud of our R&D history and grateful to those who came before us at INL,” said Laboratory Director Mark Peters. “But, even as we celebrate 70 successful years, all of us at INL are focused on the future. We are determined to help ensure America’s safety and prosperity for decades to come through our clean energy and national security research.”

Today, Battelle Energy Alliance is the INL’s general contractors and Idaho’s sixth largest private employer. The lab’s total economic output exceeds $2 billion. In the most recent fiscal year, the INL spent more than $148 million with Idaho businesses.

As part of the commemoration Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and 2nd District Congressman Mike Simpson read a proclamation into the Congressional Record.

“Mr. President, along with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson, I recognize an important anniversary being celebrated at the U.S. Department of Energy’s, DOE, 890-square-mile site in eastern Idaho.

“On February 18, 1949, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission decided to build the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho.

“For 70 years, work done by the scientists, engineers, technicians and support staff at Idaho’s lab has helped promote American prosperity and contributed to our national security.

“Since 1967, research conducted at Idaho National Laboratory’s, INL, Advanced Test Reactor has powered and modernized the U.S. Nuclear Navy.

“Fifty years ago, the Navy had to refuel its nuclear fleet frequently, an expensive and time-consuming process.

“Today, as a result of experiments conducted at the Advanced Test Reactor, ATR, the Navy’s nuclear fleet can run the lifetime of the ship – more than three decades – without refueling. That saves American taxpayers millions of dollars and ensures that our fleet is actively defending U.S. national security instead of sitting in port waiting to be refueled.

“Roughly a decade and a half ago, Congress designated INL as the nation’s lead nuclear energy research and development laboratory.

“This is fitting because on December 20, 1951, INL first demonstrated nuclear fission could be used to generate power to light our homes and cities. Throughout its history, INL has built and operated 52 original nuclear reactors, and helped establish an American industry that today produces approximately 19 percent of our nation’s electricity and more than half of our carbon-free electricity.

“INL has become a world leader in cybersecurity research and works actively with government and industry to protect and make the nation’s most critical infrastructure more resilient.

“INL has advanced broader clean energy research, informing electric vehicle deployment and developing bioenergy solutions that benefit the environment and our nation’s farmers.

“Even as we celebrate INL’s 70 years, the lab’s leadership and staff are looking ahead. Those seven decades of service provide a foundation upon which today’s INL will help this nation build a brighter future.

“INL leads the effort to maintain and extend the lives of America’s nuclear reactor fleet, while helping industry develop advanced reactor designs, including small modular reactors and microreactors.

“INL’s vital national and homeland security work grows more important every day as our systems become increasingly automated and interdependent.

“And, as we eye the energy systems that will power U.S. prosperity into the future, INL’s clean energy research is developing breakthroughs that will help integrate renewables into the power grid and allow our manufacturing and transportation systems to operate more efficiently and with less environmental impact.

“It is our great honor to congratulate INL and DOE on this important anniversary, and to wish its employees well as they work to resolve our nation’s pressing clean energy and national security challenges.”