Idaho Launches Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force at State Capitol

Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke and Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Idaho Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force at the Lincoln Auditorium in the Idaho State Capitol, kicking off a statewide effort to shape advanced nuclear policy, deployment and workforce development.

The task force, created by Governor Brad Little’s Executive Order 2025-06 signed Sept. 22, 2025, met Feb. 2, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain Time. The Governor opened the session with remarks underscoring Idaho’s partnership with INL and the state’s role in national energy security. The event was open to the public and streamed online; Idaho Public Television was named as a platform that carried the meeting.

The group is "charged with providing recommendations to the governor on nuclear energy policy, innovation, deployment and workforce development," and "will also evaluate the feasibility and benefits of deploying advanced nuclear technologies in Idaho." Bedke framed the effort as a continuity of the state’s long-running role in reactor research: "Idaho has long been at the center of nuclear innovation. This task force brings together the expertise needed to ensure Idaho remains a national leader while prioritizing safety, economic growth and workforce development."

Participants included state agency heads and policymakers, electric utilities, industry representatives, local and tribal government officials, higher education leaders and workforce development partners. The task force is supported administratively by staff from the Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources and INL. Jennifer White, Executive Director of the Idaho State Board of Education, was named among the appointees participating in the first session.

Organizers established four working groups during the meeting to tackle discrete "core" issues: policy; economic development and workforce; community engagement; and project coordination. Public comment was scheduled at the end of the day; in-person speakers were required to sign up at the door and written comments may be submitted to comments@oer.idaho.gov.

Logistics and contacts for community members were provided during the meeting notice. The physical location is Lincoln Auditorium, West Wing 2, Idaho State Capitol, 700 West Jefferson St, Boise, ID 83702. For general inquiries contact the Office of the Governor, State Capitol, PO Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720; phone (208) 334-2100; fax (208) 854-3036. Townhall technical support is available at (208) 334-3100, option 0, or townhallsupport@sco.idaho.gov. The public meeting posting lists a contact name of Emily Her with phone (208) 332-1668 and an administrative email of amanda.galvez@oer.idaho.gov.

A scheduling discrepancy in pre-meeting notices noted a 3:30 p.m. end time on one social post, but the Governor’s office notice and press release list the authoritative 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. timeframe. The task force set its next full meeting for May 21, 2026 in Idaho Falls and directed the working groups to continue meeting and develop recommendations.

For Idaho communities the task force will be where technical planning meets local impact: expect discussions to touch permitting, workforce pipelines, economic incentives and how projects intersect with local and tribal priorities. Track working-group announcements, submit written comments to OEMR, and watch for meeting materials ahead of the May session as the task force moves from kickoff to concrete recommendations.