Pocatello, Idaho — Idaho State University has identified the Business and Research Park as the site for a new advanced nuclear facility, following its April selection by the U.S. Department of Energy for the Nuclear Reactor Innovation Center Launch Pad USA program, as reported by eastidahonews.com.
The project represents a collaboration between ISU and NuCube Energy, Inc., an Idaho Falls-based company. The planned installation is a functional microreactor designed specifically to generate heat rather than electricity for the power grid.
Dan LaBrier emphasized the educational and community benefits of the initiative. “By bringing this technology to a campus setting, ISU is proving that modern reactors can be safely operated and offer the potential to provide valuable resources to our communities,” LaBrier told the EastIdahoNews.com.
The facility will support technology development, experimental testing, and student training. ISU currently hosts the state’s only ABET-accredited undergraduate nuclear engineering program, positioning the university to leverage this infrastructure for academic growth.
This development aligns with broader nuclear advancements in the region, including recent milestones at the Idaho National Laboratory where deployable energy projects reached criticality. The microreactor project underscores Eastern Idaho’s expanding role in next-generation nuclear research and training.