MAYOR CASPER SPEAKS AT IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE SIDE EVENT

IAEA | October 18, 2024

Mayor Rebecca Casper, Idaho Falls and ECA Vice-Chair, spoke at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Annual General Conference side event. Speakers from Argentina, Canada, Hungary, Japan and the United States of America considered the challenges and opportunities presented to nuclear facility host communities and highlighted success stories and lessons learned. Participants heard how the success of large infrastructure projects typically relies on social licence and nuclear power projects are no exception. Open dialogue among all stakeholders is vital, especially with host communities, and can help keep projects on time and budget while addressing local concerns. Moreover, open dialogue is key to earning the support of local communities to host nuclear power projects, ranging from power reactors to research laboratories and deep geological repositories for spent fuel.

The recording of the event can be viewed here. 

Panellists provided examples illustrating how proactive, cooperative engagement between community members, government bodies and implementing organizations led to positive outcomes and laid the foundation for long-term success.  

Mayor Casper emphasized that local engagement is essential. Idaho Falls hosts the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which is a major nuclear energy research laboratory that has hosted numerous demonstration reactors and is set to act as the testing ground for several advanced reactors in the near future. “Mayors tend to consider themselves partners,” Casper said. “Unlike the many other players who will be a part of a project, only the local community will be around for the entire 100 year relationship.”  

Read the IAEA's full summary of the General Conference side event here.