Moscow, ID, January 21, 2026

The U of I Energy Institute will host the first annual Energy Symposium March 4 and 5 to examine the permitting for construction projects in the energy space. Registration is open for the event here: Summary – Energy Symposium.

“The symposium is bringing industry professionals from across the state, region and country to share their knowledge with each other and with our students,” said Energy Institute Executive Director John Kumm. There is strong interest from industry, natural resources and engineering students. They are joined by students from across campus with business, international, science and policy interests that intersect energy and the environment. “The institute exists in part to educate the next generation of leaders in responsible energy production and use. Engaging students this way serves their interests and industry’s by preparing students for the conversations they’ll lead in the workplace.”

Energy availability, reliability and cost are increasingly central concerns for households, businesses and policymakers alike. Modern energy systems must balance environmental stewardship with the urgent need to build and upgrade infrastructure that reliably delivers clean, affordable power.

Image provided by University of Idaho

As demand for dependable and affordable energy grows, the University of Idaho Energy Institute is sharpening its focus on one of the most pressing challenges facing the energy sector: how to move critical projects through the permitting process efficiently while protecting communities and the environment.

Energy generation and transmission projects must meet a broad set of permitting requirements prior to construction. The permitting process protects priceless natural, historical and cultural resources. It also takes substantial time and expense to satisfy the complex requirements, sometimes delaying projects for a decade or more. During these delays, system reliability and load-serving capacity can both be harmed, at cost to energy customers.

Underlining the need, the Boardman-to-Hemingway 500kV transmission line started in construction in the fall of 2025 after first being proposed by Idaho Power in 2006. When it goes into service in 2027, it will carry 1,000MW of energy to homes and businesses, helping utilities at both ends of the line serve increasing loads. Like other transmission lines in the region, the Boardman-to-Hemingway line carries energy in either direction, depending on the season, so it benefits communities at both ends. While the long time-horizon for this project is not typical it is an example of the challenges that energy projects face and the opportunity available to create permitting processes that simultaneously protect our natural and cultural resources and come to resolution quickly.

A special symposium segment will highlight the nuclear energy space. The Northwest is home to both the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory near Richland, Washington, both of which are partners with the Energy Institute. U of I performs research and grants degrees in nuclear, electrical and mechanical engineering, cybersecurity and robotics. All these are critical to the nuclear energy industry where interest in a new class of nuclear reactors known as small modular reactors (SMRs) has blossomed. Fuel sources and permitting for these and other nuclear resources will be considered at the symposium.

The Energy Symposium will be held in Moscow, Idaho, at the Pitman Center on the University of Idaho campus. The event will kick off during the evening of March 4, 2026, with an evening keynote address by noted energy journalist, documentarian and author, Robert Bryce. On March 5, a full day of panel sessions and presentations explore energy projects from several angles. For more information or to register to attend the event, visit: go.uidaho.edu/energy-institute