The French-owned energy firm Areva Inc. has decided to build a $2 billion uranium enrichment plant near Idaho Falls. The Associated Press broke the story this morning.
Areva said in a press release today that the facility would be built 18 miles west of Idaho Falls, near the Idaho National Laboratory, where scientists have done research into nuclear energy since the 1940s. The company plans to open the plant by 2014.
The plant will employ 250 full-time workers and need about 1,000 people for the construction, starting as soon as 2011.
The facility will provide enrichment services to nuclear plant operators using centrifuge technology developed by the Enrichment Technology Company Ltd., an Areva subsidiary, the press release said.
Spokeswoman Laurence Pernot said on Tuesday that Areva picked Idaho over four other sites because of the availability of skilled workers, good geotechnical conditions, land availability and an attractive package of tax incentives passed by the Legislature this year.
Lawmakers agreed to cap the company’s property tax valuation at $400 million and to broaden a sales tax exemption for nuclear fuel production equipment if Areva decided to build here.
Idaho state and federal officials are hailing news of what will be the largest commercial energy project in the state’s history.
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8 Comments
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Should be interesting to see how quickly this moves forward, eh? (I'll bet the naysayers are already whining over that "other" media blog, LOL) Knowing how much work had gone into this, let me be the first poster to send along my kudos. Cheers! Comment By Norris
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 11:25 AM
Maybe they should build the plant in France and we could divert the sand that is coming to Idaho from Iraq. Comment By Patrick
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 11:50 AM
Congratulations to the Governor and everyone who worked on this! This is a home run for Idaho and our future! Comment By Con
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 12:10 PM
A lot of people across the state got behind this - I could rattle off half the names of IEDA, lol, but Linda Martin & Tami Sherwood at Grow Idaho Falls were taking the most heat on this - and I'm sure that Gynii, Brandon, INL's Nancy B and Don D at Commerce were in there somewhere. Anyway.. a team effort that paid off. The economic analysis numbers tell us that this will have a huge payback and not just for IF. Cheers! Comment By Norris
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 12:54 PM
This is a major victory for all those in Idaho Falls who worked in a truly collaborative fashion to make something happen: Lane Allgood, Linda Martin from the business & economic development end, Senators Bart Davis/Brent Hill and Mayor Fuhriman from the political side, and Tim Soloman at the RDA for planting the seed of possibility with Areva months ago. Comment By Bill Sellers Idaho Falls
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 12:56 PM
I suppose it couldn't hurt. It's not like the nuclear energy industry ever hurt anyone, and all Idaho Falls had to do was give up a lot of money. Maybe the state could negotiate a deal for Plummer, in which they could buy used cat litter and syringes back from- oh...say, Liechtenstein. Now that would be a coup indeed. Comment By Dave
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 8:33 PM
Idaho Falls didn't give up anything as opposed to Poky who gave up a 99 year lease for $1 a year for leasing property to Hoku. Idaho on the other hand is giving up a chunk of what might have been tax revenue to bring tax revenue, high paying jobs, and an ecomomic boost for a company who might end up saving you money on your heating bills and/or your fueling bills for your car. Idaho Falls will feel the benefits from this from new growth in anticipation and spin off companies. Not to mention that now other companies will look to not only the Idaho Falls area but the whole state of Idaho. This is a win/win for the state as far as the tax breaks go because any company has the chance to get these breaks anywhere in the state not just Idaho Falls. Comment By D Nix
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 @ 12:38 AM
The 250 jobs are great but my money’s on the subcontracts, procurements, spin-off opportunities, and a nuclear industry cluster as a return on investment for Idaho. This is a good deal and positions the state as a player in the nuclear renaissance. If you want greater core competencies in the state then this is one to watch. Assuming the deal goes through to the full extent, we’ll see a lot more benefits. It sure beats more call centers, trailer manufacturers, and dairy farms. Comment By JSV
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 @ 12:37 PM
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