INL creates presence in Boise – Hydrogen development is key

Along with a new name and a new mission, officials at the Idaho National Laboratory are hard at work forging new ties with the Idaho Legislature.

Two INL representatives, John Kolts and David Shropshire, appeared before the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on Wednesday to discuss the status of hydrogen research, environmental compliancy issues and the next generation of nuclear reactors.

"It’s important to keep technology in Idaho," said Kolts, program manager of INL’s hydrogen program. "We don’t want to have our electricity rates increased because of what happened in California two years ago."

Kolts noted the state might not have the coal and crude oil deposits of some of its neighbors, but said its technological advances in fields such as hydrogen research can more than offset the balance.

"We have the world’s largest diesel reformers," he told the committee.

By Dan Boyd – Journal Writer

Full Story: http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2005/03/03/news/local/news14.txt