James E. Risch

01/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/15/2025 18:20

Risch Underscores Importance of Nuclear Energy, Expresses Support for Trump’s Energy Secretary Nominee

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), senior member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today underscored the importance of nuclear energy and the Idaho National Laboratory to President Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

"The Idaho National Lab is an incredibly important cog in the wheel of nuclear energy and I appreciate your commitment to visit," said Risch. "We look forward to that."

"There's a lot to be proud of in Idaho, particularly Idaho National Lab," said Chris Wright, nominee to be Secretary of Energy.

Click here to watch.

Full remarks below and lightly edited for clarity.

Senator Risch:

"As you know, Idaho is the birthplace of nuclear energy in the universe and we still have the first lightbulbs that were lit with nuclear energy there at the Idaho National Lab. As I explained to you [during our meeting], the Idaho National Lab is an incredibly important cog in the wheel of nuclear energy, and I appreciate your commitment to visit. We look forward to that.

"As I explained to you, with the renaissance of nuclear energy, not only in America, but even louder really in the world writ large, we, the United States of America, compete with Russia, China, and France in being a purveyor of nuclear power plants to other countries who are interested and there is so much interest right now. When a contract is put out from another country, the importance of us being the winner in that because it creates a 100-year relationship as we go forward with nuclear energy.

"Could you take a minute to articulate your understanding of the importance that we, the United States of America, and particularly the Idaho National Lab, have in leading the world as we move forward over the next decades and century as we convert over to nuclear energy?"

Chris Wright, Nominee to be Secretary of Energy:

"Thank you, Senator, and I very much enjoyed our visit. There's a lot to be proud of in Idaho, particularly Idaho National Lab. The United States invented the technology of nuclear, first for abrupt action weapons and then for commercial nuclear power. Of course, we should lead in that. President-elect Trump and I are entirely aligned on this, but you are right. There are other players out there in the space, and if the U.S. moves slowly, other players are going to fill that vacuum. It's much better if that technology, that alliance, that partnership is with the United States. I'm firmly in favor of that. Nuclear, today, is probably a smaller energy source, only 4% of global energy, that could grow huge. It's had that potential for some time and I'd like to see it move faster as soon as we can.

Senator Risch:

"I appreciate that and I agree with you. It not only can move faster, it will move faster. The advent of the small modular reactor, the SMR, and the advent of the micro [reactor], which is going be behind it fairly quickly. We are moving quick. China is competing with us, as far as who can get these online quick enough, who can get them demonstrated quick enough, who can get the first commercials up and running. When that happens, there's going to be a stampede by countries to sign up to get SMRs and micros.

"After talking with you, I'm convinced that you agree that we need to be a leader - THE leader - in doing that. Thank you for your understanding in that regard and I look forward to working with you on that."