The conference: The Energy Superabundance conference, hosted by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, was the first workshop of an initiative launched by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who is also the 2026 chair of the Western Governors’ Association.
The conference brought together policymakers and experts from western states to discuss regulatory and permitting challenges for nuclear energy projects, investment needs and policy frameworks, supply chain challenges, and nuclear fuel cycle constraints.
Training and education programs: In his interview with the Sun, Wagner praised Little for his Idaho LAUNCH program, which provides grants to students for technical training and higher education programs associated with in-demand careers. “Making that easier to get first-generation college graduates into the pipeline is fantastic,” Wagner said. “I myself am a first-generation college graduate, so l love that. That’s a great example of what can be done.”
Wagner also urged Idaho legislators to consider the Navy Nuclear Power School for more ideas regarding technical training programs and to leverage the experiences of the state’s higher education institutions with workforce training programs for the nuclear industry. “How do you leverage what’s there, adjust the curriculum, and provide that sort of package?” he said. “I would love to see us do something like that.”
INL workforce: The Sun reported that INL has increased its workforce from about 4,000 employees seven years ago to about 6,000 employees today. According to Wagner, INL needs to continue hiring additional staff because of attrition, retirement, and requirements for specialized skills and positions.
INL employees are not subject to the workforce reductions, early retirement buyouts, and deferred resignations that have affected many federal agencies this year, Wagner said, because INL employees are not federal employees.
