The INEC Tech Hub, designated by the U.S. Economic Development Agency (EDA) in 2023, has created a foundation of member-partners that will accelerate regional growth, sustainable workforce training and successful energy transition technologies. This foundation will attract partners and technology developers from across the globe seeking an ecosystem to support the future of clean energy in Idaho and beyond. The INEC region (Idaho and Wyoming) is at the epicenter of America’s advanced energy transition. This will continue to have significant economic benefits to the region and will drive the world’s clean energy transformation.
The INEC Tech Hub Phase II submittal to the U.S. EDA in February 2024, proposed four highly integrated Component Projects aimed to create a sustainable foundation to accelerate advanced nuclear technologies within the region, across the nation and beyond. Our proposed Phase II projects totaled $107,315,064, which included INEC's federal ask of $70.5 million and over $36 million in matching/investment funds from our regional partners.
Commercialization and Policy
The Commercialization and Policy Component Project will address policy-induced barriers to sustainable growth with the establishment of the Nuclear Policy Center. For the first time in the region’s history, policymakers, industry, academic institutions, and INL will unite to address the most difficult challenges to an advanced nuclear clean-energy future. Additionally, INEC’s role developing innovative platforms to assist with cost and risk analysis and community tools to guide those engaging in advanced nuclear deployment will serve as the guiding point throughout the United States.
Accelerating Advanced Reactor Deployment
To manage the increasing energy demand in a clean and sustainable way, the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, particularly small modular reactors and microreactors, will be a critical centerpiece to America’s and the world’s energy transition. The INEC Tech Hub will play a pivotal role in commercializing these technologies. The tech hub will identify potential sites to attract future advanced reactor deployments to the region. The hub will support private industry partners in advanced technology implementation and testing to accelerate the deployment of advanced reactor designs, while also supporting communities across the region by expanding their access to training and technical alignment to build a workforce that meets the current and future advanced energy needs.
Fuel Cycle Support
The INEC Tech Hub’s Fuel Cycle Component Project aims to address constraints within the nuclear fuel cycle to pave the way for domestic growth in advanced nuclear energy production. This project targets three aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle: 1) advancing technologies for groundwater remediation to enhance the economics of uranium production; 2) developing innovative approaches to mineral processing and remediation to enable uranium extraction from waste rockpiles; and 3) scaling a used nuclear fuel recycling technology.
Supply Chain
The Supply Chain Component Project will address two of the seven key enablers identified by the Electric Power Research Institute and Nuclear Energy Institute to successfully deploy advanced nuclear reactors. It will advance domestic construction and manufacturing technologies and capabilities while enhancing workforce skills to support a sustainable advanced nuclear energy production infrastructure. It will develop protocols to ensure those responsible for constructing, deploying, operating, and maintaining advanced reactor facilities are trained to the latest practices and standards and are prepared to support an accelerated expansion of this industry.
Moving forward, IAEC and INEC leadership will work with the Economic Development Administration through the evaluation process while initiating efforts to prepare for the award announcements this summer for a quick transition to implementation in the fall of 2024. We will reach out for continued member engagement and updates between now and then, and we hope we can count on your support.