SE_SCEE_2017A 03/09/2017 Committee Summary

10:05 AM -- Presentation on Nuclear Energy - Michael Hagood



Senator Scott introduced Michael Hagood from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a government-owned, contractor operated institution. Mr. Hagood is the acting director for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies and the Acting Associate Laboratory Director for Energy and Environment Science and Technology. Mr. Hagood described his role at the laboratory and gave a background of INL. He distributed a copy of his presentation to the committee (Attachment A). He stated INL began as a testing facility for nuclear reactors and developed its activities into advancing nuclear energy, securing and modernizing infrastructure, and enabling clean energy deployment. Mr. Hagood stated that INL is developing ways to integrate nuclear energy with fossil fuel energy and renewable energy resources to reduce environmental impact of energy created by fossil fuels. Mr. Hagood discussed INL's role in national security and infrastructure technology, as well as the lab's contributions to national defense systems. He explained the cybersecurity program at INL and talked about INL's defense manufacturing capability.



170309 AttachA.pdf





10:26 AM



Mr. Hagood discussed INL's work focused on renewable energy, which includes a battery performance lab and a program for clean energy integration. He described the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, which is a public research center specializing in environmental and resource sustainability, nuclear and science engineering, geological systems ad application, and fossil carbon conversion. Mr. Hagood discussed INL's work in regional energy innovation. He stated that INL is working to address science and technology challenges associated with development, delivery and use, and security of renewable and fossil fuel resources. He stated that INL is focused on addressing the relationship between energy, water, and food production.



10:35 AM



Mr. Hagood discussed select INL regional initiatives. He explained the launch of the Western Initiative for Nuclear, a broad, multi-western state collaboration, to study the demonstration and deployment of a multi-module NuScale SMR plan in the western United States. He also discussed several ways that INL has engaged with Colorado, including laboratory-directed research and development at Colorado State University, a Nuclear Energy University Program Project led by Colorado School of Mines, and strong collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Lab.



10:38 AM



Mr. Hagood responded to questions from the committee concerning hybrid plants that integrate nuclear energy into fossil fuel development and the cost of micro-energy development. He also responded to questions about how the development of manufacturing effects the development of nuclear energy and the international trends of energy development and world energy markets. He also discussed the differences in energy development across different regions of the nation and the transport of nuclear energy.





10:59 AM -- Trends in Energy Technologies and Markets - David Mooney



David Mooney, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), introduced himself to the committee and gave a brief background of NREL. Mr. Mooney discussed electricity generation costs and gave a cost comparison of the generation of fossil fuel, wind, solar, and other energy. He discussed power system trends in the country, explaining that natural gas production had surpassed coal production and renewable energy has seen a sharp production increase. Mr. Mooney discussed the trends of power systems in Colorado, stating that Colorado is seeing an increase in wind and solar energy production. Mr. Mooney discussed employment within US electricity generation and Colorado energy production. He also discussed water consumption for different types of energy production.



11:21 AM



Mr. Mooney responded to questions from the committee regarding the future of renewable energy development while considering the current federal administration, and committee discussion ensued. Mr. Mooney provided a copy of his presentation to the committee (Attachment B).



170309 AttachB.pdf







11:30 AM -- Energy, Water, and Our Future - Brad Udall



Brad Udall, Senior Scientist Colorado State University, introduced himself to the committee. Mr. Udall discussed water consumption for electricity generation and stated that Colorado energy use of water is approximately 55,000 acre feet per year. He stated that solar and wind energy production have the lowest water consumption. Mr. Udall discussed the affect of a warming climate on the water cycle, including more rain and less snow, earlier runoff, and more intense rain. He discussed climate trends in Colorado and the 2000-2014 Colorado River Basin drought.



11:52 AM



The committee adjourned.