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Abundant and affordable energy is required for U.S. economic stability and national security. Advanced nuclear power plants have the best near-term potential to generate abundant and affordable electricity and hydrogen without appreciable generation of greenhouse gases. To that end, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been charged with leading the revitalization of nuclear power in the U.S.

INL's vision is to become the preeminent nuclear energy laboratory with synergistic world-class multi-program capabilities and partnerships by 2015. The vision focuses on four essential destinations:

• Become the preeminent, internationally recognized nuclear energy research, development, and demonstration laboratory
• Become a major center for national security technology development and demonstration
• Become a multi-program national laboratory with world-class capabilities
• Foster academic, industry, government, and international collaborations to produce the needed investment, programs, and expertise.

To this end, the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate facilitates five distinctive signature areas to help guide the decisions and investments within the Laboratory. The distinctive signature areas include: Instrumentation, Control and Intelligent Systems; Materials and Nuclear Fuels Science and Technology; Microbial Metabolic Systems; Separation and Actinide Science; and Theory, Modeling, and Simulation (see CAMS).

Instrumentation, Control and Intelligent Systems

The Instrumentation, Control, and Intelligent Systems (ICIS) science signature will lead the development of advanced instrumentation, control, and intelligent systems to support next-generation power and energy security systems. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) (www.inl.gov) will advance current instrumentation and control methods that focus on controlling sub-processes and components by designing and implementing intelligent. . .more

Materials and Nuclear Fuels S&T

INL has been given a leadership role in international revitalization of nuclear power. To enable the Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear mission for the Laboratory, INL must have exceptional capability in research, development, and deployment of the next generation of advanced materials and nuclear fuels that will deliver increased performance and reliability for increasingly demanding energy generation environments. Developing nuclear. . .more

Microbial Metabolic Systems

Water and energy security have, and always will be, critical to the economic stability and future of the United States. Further, it is accepted that the demand for secure and reliable energy and water sources will continue to increase. Ensuring energy and water security requires innovative methods to locate, produce, and distribute these resources, as well as to responsibly manage and respond to the environmental consequences. . .more

Separation and Actinide Science

In order to secure a strong economic future, the U.S. needs a sustainable energy source. Nuclear technology has the potential to meet this need for the nation. However, if the potential of nuclear energy is to be realized, the once-through fuel cycle practiced for decades must be reconsidered. The cycle requires long-term disposal to protect the environment and public from long-lived radioactive species. Until a national repository is opened, spent nuclear. . .more