OPINION: INL can thrive without becoming a permanent nuclear waste repository

It is not likely that most Idahoans would support the State of Idaho becoming a permanent host for one-third of America’s nuclear waste. But that will be our lot if Gov. Brad Little signs a Host Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for establishment of a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Center (NLIC) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The governor claims that Idaho will not be the permanent resting place for the waste, but common sense and history tell us otherwise. 

Last May, President Donald Trump issued four executive orders designed to speed up development of nuclear energy. Among other things, he “directed DOE to designate AI data centers as critical defense facilities and tasked the Secretary of Energy with utilizing all available legal authorities to site, approve, and authorize deployment of advanced reactors to power them.” That appears to be exactly what is planned for the INL. The intent is to use a critical defense facility designation to get around every state and federal law that may get in the way. 

The governor has thrown caution to the winds to support this presidential boondoggle. It should be noted that INL has been prohibited from bringing in new loads of nuclear waste ever since 1995, when the State and DOE entered into a written agreement. Opponents of that agreement tried to kill it with a voter initiative in 1996. Idahoans rejected the initiative by a vote of 304,886 to 182,710. 

Despite the 1995 agreement, INL has grown and prospered. It is the jewel of the Nation’s nuclear crown. That is because of its highly-skilled and dedicated workforce. It is strongly supported by local communities and folks across the state. Innovation is the name of the game in this complex industry and that rare commodity is in great abundance at the INL. With its stellar qualifications, INL does not have to be a meek supplicant, begging for some transitory scraps from the federal table. 

If the DOE wants to bring in additional waste, it should do it in compliance with the terms of the 1995 agreement. It has sought and obtained exemptions in the past and things have generally worked out for both sides. If we are silly enough to agree, sight unseen, to take one-third of the nation's nuclear waste, it should be in small increments, with a clear understanding and written agreement as to when each increment will be sent back out of state. 

I would posit that INL will continue to be the premier nuclear innovator in the country, even if Idaho does not get the NLIC designation. Just a couple of weeks ago, NASA’s Administrator announced in Idaho Falls that the “INL is key to NASA's space plans.”  

Oklo Inc. broke ground for its first Aurora Powerhouse sodium-cooled fast-neutron reactor at INL last September. There are many more remarkable programs like these at INL. 

Last December, the Trump Media and Technology Group became a nuclear power. Trump entered into a $6 billion merger with TAE Technologies, a fusion power developer. TAE is currently looking for a site to construct a speculative utility-scale fusion power plant. Rather than making INL a waste dump, Gov. Little might invite TAE to locate there. Giving Trump a piece of the action might incentivize him to protect his investment from nuclear waste contamination. 

• • •

Jim Jones is a Vietnam combat veteran who served eight years as Idaho Attorney General (1983-1991) and 12 years as Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2005-2017). He also publishes at substack.com/@jjcommontater.