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INL hosts policy tour for CSG-WEST

INL’s Richard Boardman outlined to CSG-West delegates the studies conducted at INL concerning converting coal to liquids, plus key challenges in using coal resources without harming the environment.

On Sept. 16, INL’s Energy and Environment Directorate hosted about 20 delegates on a policy research tour from the 60th annual meeting of the nonpartisan Council of State Governments-WEST (CSG-WEST). The group, which represents 13 Western states and meets to create opportunities for legislators and staff to share ideas and experiences met at Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park Sept. 16-19.

Focused on the theme Energizing the West, CSG-WEST delegates received a detailed briefing from INL’s Richard Boardman on studies concerning converting coal to liquids and the key challenges associated with using America’s abundant coal resources in an environmentally conscious manner.

INL’s Steve Herring explains co-electrolysis and hydrogen production from nuclear energy to Wyoming state Sen. Kit Jennings, right, and other members of the CSG-WEST delegation.

The CSG-West delegation was led by Wyoming state Sen. Kit Jennings from Casper. He emphasized to the group the strong relationship his state has with Idaho National Laboratory.

Delegates also toured the Information Operations and Research Center to learn about critical infrastructure protection research, unique national security testing platforms, and cybersecurity. They also toured INL’s biomass laboratory to learn about feedstock research, and the nuclear hydrogen laboratory to view experiments in hydrogen production and co-electrolysis to produce synthetic fuels.

Bill Rogers, INL associate laboratory for E&E, said, "We are pleased to be asked to share INL’s energy research and contributions with key representatives from the CSG-West annual meeting. The West is an energy-rich region and INL has formed solid partnerships within the area to pursue technologies in fossil, renewable and nuclear energy research."

Wyoming Gov. David Freudenthal is hosting nearly 600 delegates representing the legislatures of the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Associate members include the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Pacific islands of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

Gov. Freudenthal chaired a special panel to discuss energy options on Sept. 17, and INL Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher spoke about energy research at INL and the challenges facing both the nation and the world.

INL provided one of two policy tour locations during the annual CSG-WEST meeting. The other tour was to a world-class natural gas field at the Pinedale Anticline Field in southwestern Wyoming. INL was a contributing sponsor for this conference and its representatives included Mike Hagood, Bob Neilson and Brian Whitlock.