WASHINGTON, DC - Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy has selected the Battelle Energy Alliance,LLC (BEA) to establish the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as the Nation’s premier laboratory for nuclear energy research, development, demonstration, and education within a decade.

The Idaho National Laboratory will combine the research and development components of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory West. The Idaho National Laboratory will begin operating under this new name and contract on Feb.1, 2005. The term of the contract is 10 years and has an estimated value of $4.8 billion. BEA, owned by Battelle Memorial Institute, teamed with several institutions, including Battelle Memorial Institute, BWXT Services Inc.,Washington Group International, the Electric Power Research Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"We are very pleased to announce today that the Battelle Energy Alliance has been selected to develop the new Idaho National Laboratory as the Nation’s command center for advanced civilian nuclear technology research and development," Secretary Abraham said.

"The Battelle team brings an outstanding reputation, an excellent plan and a superior management team that will make the INL a world-class multi-program laboratory. This new laboratory was the missing element in our strategy to provide long-term energy security for the nation. We needed a laboratory that can work with the other labs in our complex, academia, and industry to advance nuclear power technology and create an entirely new type of nuclear energy plant for the longer term future. The Idaho National Laboratory will play a very important role in our nation’s energy future and I look forward to the exciting, ground-breaking technology that will emerge from this new focus."

"We are very grateful for the strong and consistent support we have received from Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Senator Larry Craig, Senator Mike Crapo, Representative Mike Simpson, and Representative Butch Otter. They have been tireless in their support for the people of Idaho, the lab and its nuclear energy mission."

The Idaho National Laboratory will conduct science and technology across a wide range of disciplines.  As a multi-program laboratory, the INL will establish strong programs in areas such as materials, chemistry, environment, and computation and simulation. The lab will also play a key role in ensuring the nation’s security by applying its technical expertise to helping protect the country’s critical infrastructure and preventing the spread of nuclear material. 

One of the laboratory’s first major tasks will be to lead an international research and development effort to create an advanced nuclear energy technology called the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). The NGNP will be a Generation IV nuclear system that will produce both inexpensive electric power and large quantities of cost-effective hydrogen to support the development of a clean and efficient hydrogen economy in the United States and reduce the Nation’s dependence on imported fossil fuel.  This work supports the President’s National Hydrogen Fuel Initiative and is an important element in the development of a clean and efficient hydrogen economy in the United States.

The laboratory will also lead the establishment of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, a collaboration of the department, the state of Idaho, the laboratory, and universities in Idaho and across the country. This center will bring academia into the life of the laboratory in a substantive way and provide students and professors access to the laboratory’s unique capabilities. Through this center, the INL will become a nationally and internationally recognized focal point in the advancement of education in nuclear science and technology.

The BEA team was selected over three other bidders after a rigorous proposal evaluation process. BEA will now enter into a transition phase as a precursor to assuming control of the laboratory in February 2005. In addition to the laboratory’s programmatic missions, BEA will provide the leadership to ensure worker and public health and safety, maintain and develop a highly skilled, motivated workforce to accomplish its missions, be a good steward of the environment, and provide meaningful opportunities for small businesses as the laboratory carries out its missions.

A second major contract at the Idaho site will focus on completing the cleanup mission in Idaho. This procurement is ongoing.

Additional information on the new laboratory contract may be found on the solicitation web site, www.INL-RFP.gov.  Additional information on the department’s nuclear energy activities, including its research programs and the Idaho site, may be found at www.nuclear.gov.

Media contacts:
Joe Davis, 202/586-4940                                     
Hope Williams, 202/586-5806

- DOE -

Release No. R-04-352