“The funding increases in this bill represent a complete endorsement by Congress of the significant contributions INL’s workforce and leadership are making to our energy and national security,” said Simpson. “In concert with the Lab’s leadership and workforce, I have been pushing and pushing for years to improve the facilities at INL and see some new buildings rising in town and on the desert. This bill provides a significant down payment on the infrastructure revitalization plan envisioned for INL.”

Among its many provisions, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill includes:

·                     A $36 million increase over the President’s request for Idaho National Laboratory facilities. Total Idaho Facilities Management funding is targeted at $140 million. The additional funding is available for a variety of uses including new buildings, renovation of existing buildings, and equipment purchases, and the Advanced Test Reactor’s operation as a National Scientific User Facility.

·                     A $110 million increase for the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems program bringing total funding to $180 million. $169 million of this funding is targeted to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant which is designed to produce both electricity and heat for chemical processes.

·                     A $43.6 million increase over the President’s request for cleanup activities at INL bringing total cleanup funding to $475,761,000.

·                     $13.478 million for Non-Defense cleanup activities at INL for the remediation of contaminated facilities – an increase of $9.1 million over the President’s request.

·                     $2.5 million for equipment purchases at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at INL.

·                     $145 million for the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative.

“This bill provides a substantial boost to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant and the development of advanced gas reactor technology,” said Simpson. “It also places a significant investment in fuel cycle research and the continued development of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at INL. Nuclear energy research and development at INL are well served in this bill.”

In addition to the INL-related funding in the bill, the legislation also includes funding for three important Idaho-based initiatives.

·                     $5 million for the Eastern Idaho Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility being developed by the cities of Shelley and Ammon.   Funding will be used for construction of the facility – which is now underway.

·                     $951,500 for the development of Medical Isotopes from Accelerators at Idaho State University’s Idaho Accelerator Center.

·                     $1.4 million for the City of Boise Geothermal System Expansion Project which will extend the existing Geothermal System to Boise State University.

“I am pleased to report that this bill contains project funding for three areas critical to our nation’s economy and consistent with the federal government’s responsibilities – energy development, water development, and improvements in medical technology,” said Simpson. “These funds are going to be well spent in Idaho’s communities and institutions of higher learning.”