ARIMO — For many, the mention of nuclear energy evokes images of irradiated lakes, mutant three-eyed fish and glowing green radioactive fuel rods.
But nuclear energy has come a long way over the last few decades, with a variety of innovations, technological developments and research dedicated to its advancement.
Over the last few years, counties across Southeast Idaho have been embroiled in heated discussions about industrial-scale solar developments, data centers and nuclear energy’s role in the region’s future.
Nuclear energy was the focal point at a community forum in Downey Wednesday, where representatives from the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, Idaho State University and Portneuf Valley Development Corporation discussed the potential outcomes of nuclear energy and the advent of small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, technology that supporters say could deliver more power on a fraction of the land.
“Nuclear energy is a natural fit for Idaho because it builds on the state’s long history of leadership in clean, reliable energy and advanced nuclear innovation,” said Jess Gehin, INL associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science & Technology. “For Bannock County, it can mean high-quality jobs, stronger partnerships with Idaho State University and local industry, new workforce opportunities, and long-term economic growth for communities across the region.”
Despite the often contentious energy debate in Idaho, Rebecca Falcon, a Downey-area resident who has closely followed the discourse and attended the meeting, said everyone was composed and that the forum was educational and informative for participants.
Organizers hosted Wednesday evening’s event following a countywide survey that drew more than 700 responses, nearly 90 percent of which showed a positive view of nuclear energy.
The recent push for nuclear and alternative energy comes as U.S. electricity demand is projected to climb sharply. According to figures presented at the forum, the country consumes roughly 4.5 terawatts of power annually, and emerging technology, much of it tied to data centers and artificial intelligence, is expected to add another 1.3 to 1.5 terawatts of demand within five to 10 years.
That would require roughly a 30 percent increase in generation capacity during that time frame, according to Rudy Falcon, Rebecca’s husband, who works in electrical substation construction and also attended the presentation.
The Gem State itself is feeling the shift, and the change could prove transformative for rural areas like Downey as nuclear advocates work toward energy independence for all of Idaho.
Presenters told the audience the state has historically exported more power than it uses but is trending toward becoming a net importer as population and industry grow and the need for greater energy self-sufficiency steadily increases.
Boosting generation alone won’t solve the problem, Rudy Falcon said, because the transmission lines needed to move new power across long distances can take decades to build.
The proposed fix is to site new generation, including SMRs, close to where the power will actually be used, relying on lower-voltage local distribution systems rather than long-distance transmission.
The Falcons highlighted a roughly 400-acre parcel near Interstate 15 and Highway 40, at least a half-mile from the nearest home, as a potential site that would minimize disruption to the rural community in Downey.
Potential sites in Pocatello could include areas such as the former Hoku plant or the Pocatello Regional Airport, but discussions are still taking place, with the recent forum serving as a launchpad for future developments and the exchange of ideas.
Presenters described small modular reactors as dramatically more compact than conventional nuclear plants. A typical unit occupies roughly 50 acres, compared with the thousands of acres solar developers have proposed for comparable power output in the same area. One local solar plan called for as much as 4,000 acres on Bureau of Land Management land, according to Rudy Falcon.
Rudy Falcon said SMR units can often be built in clusters on a shared industrial space, expanding capacity as demand grows. Fuel pellets roughly a half-inch in diameter are designed to power the equivalent of about 1,800 homes for 80 to 90 years, with far less frequent maintenance than conventional nuclear reactors, whose fuel rods are typically serviced every eight to nine months.
Cooling methods vary by design. Some reactors use water, others air, and some use a combination of the two, while others rely on closed-loop liquid metal systems. Smaller reactors generally require significantly less water than conventional nuclear plants.
Rebecca Falcon said one of the most surprising details at the forum was the Idaho National Laboratory’s role, which is limited to testing reactor designs on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab does not build reactors for commercial use.
Licensing and public deployment fall to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She said other surprising details included Idaho State University’s operation of an on-site small research reactor since the 1960s that produces just 5 watts of power, using it as a training tool rather than an incorporated asset. ISU officials said they hope to build a modern version to train future nuclear workers.
Attendees were told that nuclear construction costs work out to roughly 60 cents per kilowatt-hour compared with about 40 cents for solar. The estimated cost of building a small modular reactor is approximately $54 million, though final project costs could run higher depending on infrastructure needs or location.
Presenters said that once in operation, nuclear facilities produce power more cheaply than solar, coal or other sources, since fuel and maintenance costs remain low for decades.
Construction timelines for a single small modular reactor were estimated at roughly three to five years, though potential complications and delays can often stymie completion dates.
Supporters at the forum underlined several advantages, including a compact footprint, continuous output, no large battery installations and greater local control over how growth unfolds.
Rebecca Falcon said some concerns surrounded whether Bannock County would see meaningful financial benefit if power is transmitted out of state through a substation owned by PacifiCorp, since taxes are assessed only on income earned rather than on power generated locally.
She also noted concerns among rural residents that hosting reactors and associated data centers could bring rapid population growth and new commercial development, changes many residents wanted to avoid.
Despite the concerns, organizers and attendees seemed to support pursuing a project in the surrounding areas. The Southeast Idaho Energy and Property Alliance, or SEIEPA, said in a recent press release that it believes the Bannock County Planning and Development Council is on the right track with the provisions for solar, wind and nuclear energy development in the new comprehensive land use and development ordinance.
SEIEPA is a coalition of landowners, farmers, ranchers and community members across Southeast Idaho who support homegrown clean energy that brings local jobs and economic benefits while protecting rural values and family farms for future generations.
Rebecca Falcon said the appeal is partly because of Idaho’s self-sufficiency ethos.
“I think the self-sufficient angle is the most impressive to everyone in the county,” Rebecca Falcon said. “I think that’s an Idaho ideal: that we take care of ourselves. The idea that Bannock County can go in with Idaho Power and maybe a couple of big companies and pull together the resources to build (a SMR). We’re gonna have all the eyes of the country on this.”
Rudy Falcon echoed her sentiments, adding:
“It is the least intrusive way to produce the highest amount of power and maintain the open spaces and the culture of our community in the whole county, not just in the South County.”
Whether Bannock County becomes an early test case remains to be seen, but the forum served as a point of optimism, a warning of what the future may hold and a reminder of the need for Idaho to keep pace with the rest of the nation as technology continues to advance. As data centers, electrification and rising temperatures strain the grid, communities are increasingly being asked to decide not just how much power they need, but where and how it should be produced.