Research Initiatives
Nuclear Energy
About 20 percent of the nation's electricity is produced from nuclear energy. Nuclear power provides baseload electricity that produces minimal carbon emissions throughout its life cycle. Determining the appropriate fuel cycle, including the disposal of long-lived waste, is a unique policy challenge to nuclear power's role in the nation's energy portfolio. Short-term challenges include project financing and cost, the permitting and siting of plants, and bringing new technology online.
Current & Past Projects Include:
- A team of nine EPI researchers recently completed a study to
assess the potential market and economic impacts of manufacturing
small and modular nuclear reactors in the US. The
multidisciplinary team included faculty from Boise State
University, Idaho State University, the University of Idaho, and
the University of New Mexico.
- EPI is also working on performance metrics for the nuclear fuel cycle as part of a US Department of Energy working group.