The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is in one of its busiest periods since the 1950s-late 1960s when it hosted the construction of 52 test, special purpose and demonstration nuclear reactors. Back when it was called the National Reactor Testing Station (1948-1974) it played a major role in today’s operating fleet of nuclear reactors, both commercial and naval.
On June 4, 2026, for the first time in 50 years, a new reactor was constructed and tested at INL (Antares Mark 0). Then a second one started up on June 30 (Deployable Unity), and a third one on July 4 (Aalo-X). Within days to weeks, a fourth reactor will be started and not only operated at zero power criticality, but also brought to full power and operated through a series of stress tests culminating in a continuous full power run lasting at least 150 hours (Radiant Kaleidos).
John Wagner, INL’s current Director, is one of the overseers of the action. On this episode of the Atomic Show, John shares pride, pleasure and passion for his organization and the contribution that it’s making towards a new nuclear era. We talked about the ways that INL’s staff assisted the private companies that built the machines that started up and how the staff provided assistance to reactor projects located in Utah (Valar) and Texas (Oklo) that have started up during the busy summer of 2026.
John also made it abundantly clear that the private companies bore the costs of designing, building and operating their equipment. The laboratory staff, as well as the Department of Energy staff, played supportive roles as needed. They helped to remove artificial barriers in the way of timely mission accomplishment.
INL is not just a nuclear energy laboratory. It also hosts major programs in micro-grids, grid integration, conventional renewable energy, geothermal energy and cyber security. John explains their importance to the modern electrical grid and the roles that they will play in the near future.
We talked about John’s current research interests, including improvements in the way that we understand and regulate the health effects of low level radiation and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s dawning recognition that treating a double ended guillotine break in large light water reactor piping as a design basis accident is conservative in the extreme.
You will enjoy this show. John is an engaging speaker in an influential position. He is one of the true leaders in the creation of a new nuclear era.
