The once and future lab: What’s in store for the INL
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EDITOR’S NOTE: EastIdahoNews.com is working with Idaho National Laboratory to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Each month, we’ll highlight the history, achievements and trials of the U.S. Department of Energy’s desert site. We’ll explore the INL’s influence on eastern Idaho and its impact on local people.
IDAHO FALLS — The desert site where the Idaho National Laboratory is now has been an integral part of eastern Idaho for decades, and it will be a key part of the region’s future.
Originally a military testing facility during World War II, the site is now a leading center for nuclear energy research and development.
The U.S. Department of Energy manages the site on 890 square miles of land about 50 miles west of Idaho Falls. Under its leadership, the INL has grown to include an Idaho Falls campus that is expanding its research beyond nuclear energy to areas like cybersecurity, grid resilience, electric vehicles and batteries.
Throughout the year, EastIdahoNews.com has been highlighting the INL’s 75th anniversary with a series of stories exploring its history, different research projects, aspects of operation and major accomplishments.
But what does the laboratory’s future entail? We spoke with INL Director John Wagner about what he believes will be continued success at the site.
“It is exciting times here at this laboratory. The growth, the vibrancy, the impact we’re having,” Wagner said.
RELATED | Celebrating 75 years of scientific innovation
Happening now
Several projects are underway at the INL. Here are a few.
- The Experimental Breeder Reactor-II dome at the Materials and Fuels Complex is being retrofitted as a demonstration and operation of microreactor experiments test bed for advanced nuclear energy reactors.
- A second laboratory for operations and testing in the U.S. test bed is also being constructed in the previous Zero Power Physics Reactor building at the Materials and Fuels Complex.
- Then there’s the Sample Preparation Laboratory, which is a new hot cell facility used for research on irradiated materials. The primary materials used in the Sample Preparation Lab are steel and metal alloys.
- Although it’s been 50 years since a nuclear reactor was built at the INL, the lab is beginning the first of at least a dozen reactor projects that will be built by the end of the decade. The Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation project could be operational as soon as 2026.
What does the future look like?
The future looks bright for the Idaho National Laboratory. Wagner said the lab is expected to continue to expand its number of workers.
Right now, it has about 6,200 employees. Last year, INL hired approximately 800 additional staff.
“This fiscal year, when we end, I think it’ll be somewhere around 650 new staff members, so workforce is incredibly important for our future success,” he said. “I do anticipate us growing on the order of 500 to 1,000 additional staff per year for the next several years.”
Wagner said one of the biggest risks to the laboratory’s continued success is not having enough qualified staff with the right skills at the right time. He said they are always looking for new staff members and interns. Employees come from all over: locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“We’re looking for interns to feed what I call our ‘talent pipeline,’ working with our local Idaho universities and beyond, working with our community colleges, particularly the College of Eastern Idaho, but others as well, trying to make sure that we are getting the right talent that we need to execute our mission,” Wagner said.
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Additionally, INL provides hands-on STEM summer camps for kids to get them interested in things like CyberCore and clean energy at a young age.
Wagner said a number of things attracts people to work at the INL. In part, it has to do with the interesting aspects of the job, along with plenty of opportunities.
“We do the coolest stuff there. There’s a lot of opportunities for people who are like nuclear engineers or mechanical engineers, chemical engineers. We’re able to do some of the most interesting, innovative, bleeding edge work that has a direct impact to everyday citizens through our federal agency sponsors,” Wagner said.
INL has been important to Idaho’s economic impact and will continue to be so. In the last fiscal year, the economic impact in the state alone was $3.5 billion, according to Wagner, which is viewed as “massive.”
Bonneville County Commissioner Jon Walker told EastIdahoNews.com that INL plays a pivotal role in the local community, significantly impacting its economy, environment and educational landscape.
“The laboratory employs thousands of highly skilled workers, contributing to a stable job market and stimulating the local economy. The high salaries associated with these positions have a multiplier effect, supporting local businesses and services,” Walker said. “Additionally, INL attracts contractors and vendors, further boosting economic activity in the area. This influx of resources aids in infrastructure development, health care and other essential services, enhancing the overall quality of life in the community.”
Walker said the INL engages with the surrounding area in various ways. It sponsors local events, supports educational initiatives, and collaborates with local governments and organizations.
“Programs such as the INL’s STEM outreach initiatives focus on fostering interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among local students. By partnering with schools, INL provides resources, mentorship and hands-on learning experiences, which help cultivate the next generation of scientists and engineers,” Walker said.
Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper echoed Walker and said there is no doubt that since the beginning, INL has shaped Idaho Falls’ economy, spurring growth and prosperity.
“We can’t begin to value the charitable contributions made to the United Way, local churches, schools, and to the arts and in support of other cultural amenities,” Casper said. “The site’s track record of support for the business community and arts and cultural amenities is unmatched and has helped to develop the community into a regional medical, retail and tourism hub.”
Since it’s INL’s 75th anniversary, EastIdahoNews.com asked Wagner what he thinks the next 75 years will bring. It’s far out, but he does believe that INL’s research will be largely focused on the same areas they are working in today.
“So we’re an applied energy laboratory. Our primary purpose is nuclear energy, but we do a lot of other things. So I do anticipate our future research will still be anchored in our nuclear energy,” Wagner said. “Our vision statement is to change the world’s energy future, so that’s nuclear, plus other clean energy options.”
Commissioner Walker shares that opinion, and said he believes the influence of INL will likely grow in the next 75 years.
“As energy demands evolve and the push for sustainable solutions intensifies, INL is expected to remain at the forefront of nuclear research and development. This could lead to the development of advanced reactors and new energy solutions that not only power the region but also contribute to global energy security,” Walker said.
He said as INL expands its research into hydrogen energy and carbon capture technologies, the community may see new industries emerge, potentially diversifying the local economy. It could create additional job opportunities, attract new residents, which will in turn, foster a more vibrant community.
“Through economic contributions, educational initiatives, and commitment to sustainability, INL not only enhances the local community but also lays the groundwork for a resilient and innovative future,” Walker said.
Wagner told EastIdahoNews.com he sees specific areas growing, like fusion energy in the nuclear world and areas related to small nuclear reactors for space and defense applications.
“Last but not least, you can’t read anything or see any publications where you don’t hear all the excitement about artificial intelligence. We’re right there as well. We see artificial intelligence enabling our research as well as enabling efficiencies in our management of the laboratory,” Wagner said.
INL’s future is promising as it continues to develop, create, and contribute to everyday life, he said.
“I think our future in the next 75 years is only constrained by our imagination of what’s possible,” Wagner added.
Highlights of what we’ve unearthed this year
To commemorate the INL’s 75th anniversary, EastIdahoNews.com dove into a number of topics, such as nuclear-related artifacts, space battery and cybersecurity research. Below are a few of these stories. Click here to find more.
We toured the Experimental Breeder Reactor 1 and learned how a group of scientists changed the world. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson called it a “national historic landmark.” It’s where the United States produced the world’s first electricity from nuclear energy.
There’s also the Advanced Test Reactor, which is one of INL’s flagship facilities and is dubbed as the “world’s most powerful test reactor.”
During the summer, INL invited us to a commemoration event where seven crewmen who died in a bomber on a test flight where honored. They died the night of Jan. 8, 1944. A granite marker was made and placed on the site at INL to honor them.
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Then, one of our reporters dug through trash from World War II In the Idaho desert and found thousands of rusted medicine bottles, hand-painted mugs, fine china, original glass soda bottles, children’s toys and even a bird cage. Click here to learn more.
Brought to you by Idaho National Laboratory. Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, celebrating 75 years of scientific innovations in 2024.