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INL Strengthens Regional Partnership

INL Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher discusses the lab's new relationship with PNWER as Maj. Gen. Lawrence Lafrenz, commanding general of the Idaho Army National Guard, and Idaho Department of Commerce Director Jim Ellick look on during a meeting with PNWER representatives and Idaho officials.

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter joined Idaho state Rep. George Eskridge, representatives from the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region and Idaho National Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher on Jan. 14 to announce a cooperative agreement between INL and PNWER.

Eskridge, current president of PNWER, touched on the long history of cooperation between PNWER and the laboratory. The agreement announced at a press conference in Boise's historic Borah Building establishes a more formal relationship between the two organizations as they work toward addressing energy and homeland security-related issues facing the Pacific Northwest.

PNWER is a regional U.S.-Canadian forum dedicated to encouraging global economic competitiveness and preserving the region's world-class natural environment. This public/private partnership includes governments and businesses in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon Territory. PNWER's major program initiatives include energy, transportation, homeland security and work-force development.

The agreement takes advantage of INL's Work for Others Program and calls for the lab to focus initially on determining the impact of insufficient electricity transmission infrastructure in the region. The study, valued at $30,000, is expected to be the first of many collaborative efforts between PNWER and INL. Other areas of potential collaboration may include research on energy generation options and their associated costs, risks and environmental impacts as well as transportation, disaster preparedness and grid reliability and security.

Speaking to reporters, Grossenbacher said, "INL's relationship with PNWER will allow the lab to apply the talent and resources of not only INL, but also the national laboratory system to benefit Idaho, the region and our Canadian neighbors." Grossenbacher commented that INL is excited about the opportunity to use its science, engineering and math tools to examine hard problems and produce research results to aid in the decision-making process. "The chance to have a formal relationship with an institution such as PNWER is enormously valuable and very important to INL."

Gov. Otter commented that it was important for the relationship between INL and PNWER to take on this added dimension, noting that "innovation is our future, and we have to drive that with energy." In concluding the press conference, the governor said, "Once again, Idaho becomes the benefactor of the great talent, abilities and reputation of Idaho National Laboratory."

L-R: David Kettles, director of US Relations (Alberta International, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Relations); Matt Morrison, executive director (PNWER); Hon. Jim Kenyon, Minister for Economic Development (Yukon); Hon. John van Dongen, minister of state for Intergovernmental Relations (British Columbia); Idaho Governor C.L. Butch Otter; State Rep. George Eskridge (Idaho), PNWER president; Neil Windsor, executive director of Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta; Idaho National Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher.

L-R: State Rep. George Eskridge (Idaho), PNWER president; Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter; and Hon. John van Dongen, BC minister of state for Intergovernmental Relations, discuss the collaboration between PNWER, INL and the state of Idaho.