Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) created a state task force focused on advancing nuclear energy on Sept. 22 at a Western Governors’ Association’s workshop held at the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
The Idaho governor also said the new task force will replace the Leadership in Nuclear Energy (LINE) Commission. The commission formerly made recommendations to the governor on policies regarding long-term goals for and other nuclear industries in Idaho.
Little signed off on an executive order to create the Idaho Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force as an effort to keep Idaho at the forefront of nuclear innovation, according to his Sept. 22 press release.
The task force will explore workforce initiatives to grow the nuclear industry, private-public partnership opportunities for commercialization and research, and evaluate the feasibility of deploying advanced nuclear technologies in Idaho.
The force will be composed of “no more than 20 members”, Little said, appointed by the governor. Members will include the director of INL, state congressmen, representatives from universities, public and private companies and more.