In its 75th year, the Idaho National Laboratory continues to lead on nuclear technology advancements.

The latest boost for the lab and the rest of Idaho is a federal designation as a technology hub. The Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor was among the inaugural group of tech hubs authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act approved by Congress in 2022. The hub includes both Idaho and Wyoming.

Hope Morrow, co-chair of the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, which is leading the nuclear energy corridor, emphasized the importance of the designation.

"It means a lot, quite frankly, to this region to be able to deploy the technology and research that has been created here," Morrow explained. "And then kind of accelerate this clean energy future for the world."

The hub is focused on advanced technology aiming to make nuclear reactors smaller and more economically viable, reducing the necessity for carbon emitting energy sources. While Idaho has been a leader in the nuclear industry, Morrow pointed out Wyoming is also included in the tech hub because of its strong energy industry.

Morrow observed the tech hub designation has created a space to talk about advanced nuclear technology in the region.

"We've seen a lot of pickup in the amount of partnerships -- from utilities, other states, other communities, industry partners, etc. -- that are all circling around the industry," Morrow emphasized. "We needed kind of a central body to host these conversations, bring energy together so we're all moving in the same direction."

The Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor was among 31 tech hubs chosen by the Biden-Harris administration in 2023 and included a grant of more than $460,000. The administration chose another 12 hubs earlier this month.


get more stories like this via email

A Georgia business owner is touting the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act on families, businesses and job creation, including her own.

Olivia Amyette, owner of Infinite Energy Advisers in Cleveland, Georgia, said her journey into the solar industry began at Georgia Tech. After graduating in December 2020 during the pandemic, she chose to stay in Georgia to care for her grandfather. Amyette credits the Inflation Reduction Act for helping jump-start her solar career, allowing her to support those in need and increase job opportunities.

"There's so much expansion and so much growth in the solar industry alone," Amyette pointed out. "It's brought so many jobs to the table, manufacturing here in Georgia, all types of exciting things that really, we wouldn't have seen, I don't believe, if the IRA was not in place."

She noted her company focuses on lowering energy costs for Georgia residents and businesses through what she calls a "one-stop shop model." The company recently joined a select group of solar energy providers in the Capital Goods Fund project, a solar leasing program for low-income residents.

Amyette also founded the Solar Knowledge Institute to address workforce diversity and pay gaps in the solar industry. She explained the goal is to serve as a comprehensive training site to help others enter the field.

"I'm able to provide a platform for other women and other minorities, and just anybody who's interested in learning this field," Amyette emphasized. "That's kind of one of the things that I think make us a little bit special, is that I'm able to use the Solar Knowledge Institute to train folks, even if they don't end up working for us."

Since the Inflation Reduction Act's inception, there have been 42 attempts to repeal its climate and clean energy provisions. Amyette believes it would affect solar industry business owners and workers, whose skills and livelihoods depend on the ongoing demand for solar installations.

"I think that we're super excited to see the IRA continue to expand and to build upon what foundation they put in place," Amyette stressed. "My worry is that if we don't have the IRA, you know, we won't have any chance of seeing just where that expansion would bring us as an industry."

She hopes to see a future where solar energy options are more accessible and affordable for homes and businesses.


get more stories like this via email

Advancing clean energy sources can be a tricky topic in oil-producing states like North Dakota.

But a nonpartisan analysis says the facts are clear about what causes electric bills to climb, and renewables aren't among them.

This month, a report from the independent think tank Energy Innovation says one third of U.S. households had to forego basic necessities to pay energy bills last year.

As the nation scales up the transition to sources like wind and solar power, those opposed to clean energy rebates and other climate policies say the movement is harming consumers - with higher costs to keep the lights on.

But report author Brendan Pierpont - director of electricity modeling for Energy Innovation - said the facts show otherwise.

"Nationally, we found big drivers of rising rates are climate change impacts, and extreme weather - and fossil fuel costs," said Pierpont, "like volatile natural gas prices, and utility investment in aging, expensive coal plants."

Gov. Doug Burgum has increasingly become a staunch supporter of oil and gas production, but North Dakota has been a top ten state for wind energy generation.

The report says states with significant clean energy growth have not generally experienced rate hikes above inflation.

Between 2010 and 2023, North Dakota was in the middle of the pack for rate increases, but still below the national average.

Those who oversee the power grid warn that the rapid push toward renewables could create reliability issues in the short term, especially with rising electricity demand from places like big data centers.

Grid improvement projects are taking shape, also affecting energy bills. But Pierpont suggested not enough of them are designed to expand transmission lines.

"It's only a pretty small portion of the total transmission and distribution pie that is expanding the grid," said Pierpont, "either to meet rising demand or to integrate new resources, like wind and solar."

Pierpoint said those cleaner sources are becoming much cheaper, and if utilities and grid operators focus more on larger projects that get them online, they'll offset the factors pushing electricity bills higher.

In 2022, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator approved a $10 billion transmission plan to accommodate growth in renewables. North Dakota falls under the MISO map.




get more stories like this via email

Construction could begin in Minnesota later this year in the final phase of one of the nation's largest solar energy developments, after state regulators greenlighted a key permit.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved the site permit requested by Xcel Energy. The utility is moving forward with plans to replace the Sherco coal plant site in Becker, about halfway between St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Two other solar arrays that are part of the development have already been approved, and construction began last year.

Katie Sieben, chair of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, summarized the significance of approving the third phase.

"It's certainly a very important project for Minnesota and the upper Midwest," Sieben pointed out.

Once fully operational, the company said the combined solar capacity would generate enough electricity to power more than 150,000 homes each year, on average. Regional utilities are under pressure to meet the state's goal of carbon-free electricity by 2040. Concerns from nearby landowners were brought up before the vote, such as the need to maintain vegetation around the site for aesthetic purposes.

Officials tied to the project stressed they are committed to long-term monitoring of plants and trees, in addition to special permit conditions.

Charles Sutton, representative for North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, called in to the meeting and noted the positive impact construction is having on the local workforce.

"We appreciate the company's work," Sutton emphasized. "Continuing to partner with workers and ensuring that these projects are built by highly skilled workers that are local, and that are being paid family-sustaining wages and benefits."

Over the winter, Xcel closed the first generator of the Sherco coal plant. The remaining units will be phased out over the next five years. Xcel said it is also working with the state and local communities to bring new jobs and investments to areas affected by coal plant retirements.


get more stories like this via email