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Why a group of Utah lawmakers visited this nuclear lab
The Western energy grid is at a tipping point. Can Utah meet future demand?
Published: Aug 15, 2024, 6:21 p.m. MDT
A contingent of Utah lawmakers, university presidents and key policymakers recently flew into Idaho Falls for a daylong visit to learn about the future of energy in a Western grid straining under pressure from growing demand.
It was a long, grueling day and a whirlwind tour of the nation’s premier U.S. Department of Energy facility engaged with a primary focus on nuclear energy. At the remote site, called the Idaho National Laboratory, some of the nation’s most important research plays out to help the United States develop viable carbon free options in the energy space.
Think of energy supply. Manufacturing. Real options to cut emissions in far away countries while the military conducts operations while not relying on diesel generation. Even think of your own electric vehicle battery and if it performs under pressure with cold temperatures or searing heat. Hydrogen capabilities. Linking solar and wind and putting next generation nuclear reactors under the most intense pressure with extreme conditions.
