ISU Bengal

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Storee Powell The new Center for Advanced Energy Studies in Idaho Falls nears its projected completion date of August 2008.

With the energy crisis facing our country today, and many other issues depending on the solutions to this challenge, Idaho is taking part in a collaborative effort to research energy systems that will meet these challenges. Next to University Place at ISU-Idaho Falls, the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) is currently under construction.

Dr. George Imel, the Assistant Director of Education at CAES, and professor of nuclear engineering at ISU, said that it is right on schedule for construction, and its projected finish date is August 2008. It is a 55,000 square-foot building that will include high-tech labs for research and simulation, as well as provide a forum where students, educators, and researchers can meet to "more efficiently solve issues," Imel said.

The CAES is a public/private partnership of Boise State University, Idaho State University, University of Idaho, the Department of Energy, and the Idaho National Laboratory. Imel explained that UI will handle the research side, ISU the education side, and BSU the policy side. Policy is important because it often effects the decisions made in the energy challenge.

Imel said that combining these organizations "will make a think tank of sorts that will combine these individual strengths, along with the resources of Idaho to create a powerful team." He also mentioned that before any research can begin, the struggle will be to have allthese entities come together cohesively.

"It is very encouraging these three universities have agree to work together," he said, "because they do each have their certain strengths to contribute."

Another goal at the CAES is to educate the next generation of energy researchers and policy makers as the U.S. refurbishes its energy concentration. The current struggle, however, is the funding for faculty positions.

"Governor Otter is not quite on board for whatever reason as far as funding goes, though he is in favor of the CAES," Imel said. "We are hoping for extra state funding for faculty. This would insure continuity and stability, but if we don't get it, it doesn't mean we will fail."

According to the strategy map of CAES, the mission of the CAES is to, "Integrate resources, capabilities, and expertise to achieve the vision." The vision is to, "Accelerate the nation's development of secure, sustainable, energy solutions."

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