Welcome

newINL to the

On behalf of our more than 3,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and support

personnel, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the new Idaho National

Laboratory. We’re engaged in the ambitious and tremendously important task of

leading an international nuclear renaissance. And we all firmly believe this is the right place

for that rebirth to occur.

This is, after all, the place where usable amounts of electricity were first generated from

nuclear power. It’s where nuclear-generated electricity first powered an American

community. It’s where propulsion systems for the Navy’s nuclear-powered surface ships and

submarines were developed and where sailors and officers were trained on how to operate

them. And it’s where scores of this country’s best and brightest came to carry out President

Eisenhower’s vision of Atoms for Peace.

Clearly, we have the heritage. Just as importantly, we have the human and physical resources

today to move on to even greater accomplishments in nuclear-enabled energy security. We’ve

developed the guiding roadmaps to chart the course to the next generation of nuclear power

systems. We’re leading initiatives to develop specific Generation-IV reactor technologies,

advanced fuel cycles, space nuclear power systems and approaches to more efficiently produce

hydrogen. We’re also home to one of the world’s premier materials test reactors – the

Advanced Test Reactor, as well as the Safety and Tritium Applied Research national user

facility for fusion studies, and the new Space and Security Power Systems Facility. (Over)

By

John J. Grossenbacher

Director, Idaho National Laboratory
Beyond this leadership role in nuclear energy, we’re also working to a strategy that commits us

to make important contributions in the area of national and homeland security – leveraging our

unique Critical Infrastructure Test Range. The test range, complete with full-scale, functioning

infrastructure systems for the electric power grid, wireless communications, and others has

become a leading center for the protection of the nation’s critical infrastructures. The test range

also allows for testing and development of unmanned aerial vehicles, trace explosives detection

and testing, and lightweight armor development and testing.

In the broad areas of energy security and science, we’re addressing the challenge of energy

production by continuing to grow our contributions in technology development for fossil

fuels, geothermal, bioenergy and other renewable energy sources. In the long term, hydrogen

production, delivery and use will be of special importance, the principal aim being to

revolutionize transportation systems. We will continue to work toward increasing the

balance, diversity, efficiency and affordability of domestic energy sources to avoid the issues

and costs of overdependence on imported energy sources.

Within the next five years, we will develop and implement plans for each distinctive scientific

signature that will guide the future growth of INL’s science base. The signature areas are

advanced materials and nuclear fuels; theory, modeling and simulation; separations and

actinide science; microbiological and geological systems science; and instrumentation,

control and intelligent systems.

To energize this national priority research and development portfolio, we at INL are

committed to extensively collaborating with regional, national and international leaders in

academia, industry and government. A major goal of such partnerships is the revitalization of

nuclear science and engineering education. And we’re solidly on the path toward the

forefront research facilities, support infrastructure and management systems required to

assure success.

As you’ll see when you take a closer look at us by examining the accompanying written

materials, touring our facilities and working with us, this is a lab on the move. We have the

proud heritage, compelling portfolio, unique assets, disciplined business strategy and the

personal commitment of each and every member of the INL team to ensure fulfillment of

our assigned role of enhancing our nation’s energy security.

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