EM leaders visit Idaho National Laboratory to explore energy

On Aug.18, Eagle Mountain City’s Mayor and City Council visited the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho, as part of ongoing efforts to better understand all types of power generation. This visit was only part of the City’s recent tours of Lake Side Power Station, Lehi Generation Peaking Plant, Currant Creek Power Plant, and Solar Power Generation projects in various areas including the project south of Eagle Mountain.

The visit provided City leaders with an in-depth look at how nuclear energy is researched, tested and developed. The INL facilities have existed for over 75 years. It demonstrates and tests technology that has existed for decades, along with new applications of time-tested technologies.

INL representatives guided the Eagle Mountain delegation through multiple facilities where they were able to see the facilities, safety measures, and tools used for testing. The delegation stood feet from active nuclear reactors and went through the rigorous testing after each site.  This gave the delegation the opportunity to experience the seriousness of this technology and day-to-day precautions.  

According to City Economic Development Director Evan Berrett, the trip was designed to help leaders evaluate nuclear technology in a realistic and informed way.

“When we talk about the future of energy in Eagle Mountain, we know that our decisions will have long-lasting impacts,” Berrett said. “This visit gave our Mayor and Council a chance to ask hard questions, to learn from top experts, and to explore what advanced nuclear might mean for our community.”

Energy and Economic Growth

The City’s study of multiple power types stems from its growing need for reliable and scalable energy. As Eagle Mountain continues to attract data centers, commercial projects and residential growth, energy capacity has become one of the most pressing factors shaping the city, state and nation’s future.

“Energy is foundational,” Berrett explained. “Without stable and abundant power, we limit our ability to attract high-quality jobs and major retail businesses. That affects not just our economic development, but also the day-to-day lives of residents who want good jobs close to home and fewer long commutes.”

City leaders say that revenues generated from our existing data center development’s property taxes, already play a crucial role in funding infrastructure. Expanding energy capacity will support the other data centers in development agreements in place to complete their projects. This will provide additional revenue streams through Municipal Energy taxes that will pay for much needed road creation, widening and improvement, as well as expanding our water treatment plant. Currently, that burden falls upon the citizens of Eagle Mountain.

Balancing Benefits and Risks

While the visit underscored advanced nuclear technologies, it also provided a forum for City leaders to consider potential risks. Eagle Mountain’s delegation engaged INL experts in frank discussions about safety, environmental impacts and future innovations.

“Any time you mention nuclear energy, people have questions, and they should,” Berrett noted. “That’s why it was so important for us to dig deep with INL. We wanted to understand the technology, including how safety and waste are managed today compared to decades ago.”

City leaders made clear that if Eagle Mountain were to ever consider hosting or partnering on a nuclear project, it would only do so under strict conditions, such as restrictions on the use of water for cooling.

As committed as the City is to studying power opportunities, they also recognize Eagle Mountain is just a small part of the overall conversation about solving the energy needs, and the City is committed to being a voice for its residents in collaboration with state and federal leaders. City leaders made clear that transparency, accountability, and safety are the most important goals in building a sustainable and prosperous future for Eagle Mountain. 

Part of a Larger Vision

Alongside nuclear research, the City continues to evaluate a variety of options to ensure resilience and sustainability.

“As a city, we’re committed to being wise and deliberate in how we approach energy. We owe it to our residents to understand every option before we move forward.”

As Eagle Mountain grows, city leaders say that the pursuit of reliable energy sources will remain central to their economic and community vision.