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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Chamber members learn about small modular reactors planned for eastern Idaho

The desert west of Idaho Falls was once home to 50 reactors. Those days are gone, but if an Oregon company has its way the Idaho National Laboratory will be the site for 12 modular reactors generating 545 megawatts of power by 2025.

The regulatory hurdles are formidable and the permitting process alone will cost $1 billion, said Michael McGough, chief commercial officer for NuScale. A subsidiary of Fluor, NuScale has had a prototype small modular reactor in operation since 2003. McGough was in Idaho Falls Tuesday to speak to the Partnership for Science and Technology and the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce.

An artist's rendering of how NuScale's small modular reactor assembly would work. For a full story, visit this link: http://greenbuildingelements.com/2013/07/01/nuscale-powers-small-modular-reactor-chosen-as-preferred-technology-by-western-initiative-for-nuclear/
Compared to a typical pressurized water reactor of 1,000 megawatts, the  advantage to a small modular reactor of 45 megawatts is that it is a "plug and play" proposition, McGough said.

Fluor wants to market nuclear power plants to the world, which is why it bought NuScale in October 2011. "They want to build power plants around the world," he said.

It is possible that NuScale plants could be going online abroad sooner than they might in the United States. Right now, the company is waiting to hear whether it is going to receive $226 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to help in the design certification process with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A decision could come as early as next week, and if it happens they anticipate having their design certification application submitted -- typically a 10,000-page document -- submitted to the NRC in 2015. The review of that application would take 39 months, after which they need to get NRC permission to build.

"There's lots of things you have to do, and you have to do them right," McGough said.

Unlike traditional reactors, which rely on electric pumps to keep water on the fuel rods to keep them from melting, NuScale's self-contained, self-circulating reactors shut themselves down during a station blackout.

As for the selection of Idaho Falls, it's a case of going where you are wanted. "If the community won't support it, you just shouldn't try," he said.

The Western Governor's Association has had nuclear energy on its mind for the past three years. New hydro-electric projects aren't in the cards, and new coal-fired plants are out to the question. Wind and solar are intermittent sources and heavily subsidized. That leaves natural gas and nuclear for big baseline loads.

In June this year, at its conference in Park City, the Association released its "State of Energy in the West" report. One of the stated goals was to find ways to accelerate introduction of small modular reactors into Western states.

Shortly after that, NuScale announced the launch of the Western Initiative for Nuclear, a demonstration project in Idaho to be built and owned by a consortium of regional utilities including Energy Northwest and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS), the latter of which Idaho Falls Power is affiliated with.

Much will depend on who gets the $226 million from DOE, which would be disbursed over five years. Westinghouse Electric, Holtes International and General Atomics have also put in for the funding.

Rosemark plans open house at new building

Rosemark's new building at 3450 Potomac Way.
Rosemark WomenCare Specialists will be holding an open house Thursday afternoon from 4 to 7 at its new location, 3450 Potomac Way, off Sunnyside Road.

Although the practice's focus is on obstetric and gynecological medicine, Rosemark's doctors are also available as primary care physicians for every patient. It also provides a broad range of specialized medical services, such as bone density assessments, help for urinary incontinence, and aesthetics.

The new 10,347-square-foot facility was begun in the fall of 2012. The permit at the city of Idaho Falls Building Department assigned it a value of $2 million. Those valuations are based on square footage and don't take into account any of the equipment or furnishings a building may contain.

The Rosemark office at 808 Pancheri remains open, and Rosemark also serves patients at the Blackfoot Medical Center, 1441 Parkway Drive, Blackfoot. For more information, call 557-2900 or visit the Web site, www.rosemark.net.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Harvest Fest and Outdoor Expo set for Saturday at Snake River Landing

Labor Day and the state fair are over, which means fall is almost upon us and it's time once again for the East Idaho Harvest Fest and Outdoor Expo.

Presented by Riverbend Productions, Harvest Fest this year will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Snake River Landing in Idaho Falls.


Harvest Fest was started in 2006. Riverbend acquired the show from Blue Fox Events in 2013 and added the Outdoor Expo. There will be recreational vehicles, ATV’s, motorcycles, snow machines, boats, and booths for winter and summer adventure companies, plus opportunities to meet hundreds of outdoor experts and enthusiasts.

At Harvest Fest there will be:

  • Live onstage entertainment
  • 15 Food Vendors
  • Apple Athletic Club Cooking Tent (Secret Ingredient Cook-off
Pie Bake-off, Chili Challenge, Salsa Showdown)
  • More than 100 Local Exhibitors
  • Free Game Areas:
  • Z103’s Chicken Scratch
  • NewsTalk 97.7FM’s Bean Bag Toss
  • KLCE’s Pumpkin Bingo
  • KBear’s Tater Toss
  • 105.5 The Hawk’s Fall Bull Riding

Riverbend Productions is a division of Riverbend Communications, whose stations include Classy 97, Z103, 105.5 The Hawk, KBear 101, Newstalk 97.7FM, and 690/1260AM (on which I have a guest spot most Tuesday mornings from 8:06 to 8:30. The company is locally owned and operated by Frank and Belinda VanderSloot.

For more detailed information on the Harvest Fest and Outoor Expo, follow this link: Harvest Fest

Friday, September 6, 2013

New child care center opens on Idaho Falls' west side

Lil' Red Schoolhouse, a new child care and learning center, has opened at 762 Vassar Way, on Idaho Falls' West side.

The staff is taking applications for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Its philosophy is to encourage developmental growth and learning through a loving and safe environment. The owner, Jill Derr, has more than 20 years experience in child care. Staff members are CPR and first aid certified. Snacks and lunch are included in the price.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (208) 520-2147 or visit https://www.facebook.com/lrsidahofalls.

Givin' Meth the Boot event set for Sept. 13

The Idaho Meth Project is joining Mountain View Hospital and other community partners in Idaho Falls to raise money for the Idaho Meth Project's statewide prevention campaign.

A "Givin' Meth the Boot" dinner set for Sept. 13 is the sixth event led by Mountain View Hospital and the office of Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter to help raise funds and bring community awareness to the issue of methamphetamine use in Idaho.  Other major partners in this year’s event include Cooper Norman, CWI, (CH2M-WG Idaho), Ball Ventures and Snake River Landing.

“Several members of our team have been touched personally by meth. Their pain has inspired me and our team to spend thousands of hours a year to organize events that support the Idaho Meth Project,” said James Adamson, president and CEO of Mountain View Hospital.

“We’ve seen some great strides in our state in combatting the meth issue, including a 50-percent reduction in teen meth use, a significant drop in clandestine lab rates, and are beginning to see a decrease in meth-related treatment admissions,” Adamson said. “There’s just so much more work that can be done, and the Idaho Meth Project is the only non-profit organization in the state focused on preventing meth use.”

The private event will feature dinner, live music by the Kelly Hughes Band, a mechanical bull and a live auction with  Otter serving as guest auctioneer. Auction items include vacations to Jackson Hole and Deer Valley, tickets to the sold-out Boise State/BYU football game, and a private dinner with the governor and First Lady Lori Otter, who helped start the Idaho Meth Project in 2007.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are available for $75 each at www.Idaho.MethProject.org, but seating is limited so contact Executive Director Gina Heideman at (208) 331-2060 to ensure your seat.