Community Impacts
Fiscal Year 2025
Dedicated to empowering communities
Battelle Energy Alliance, the nonprofit organization that operates the Idaho National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy, prides itself on its commitment to corporate citizenship and community giving, supporting organizations that provide vital services to communities, schools, individuals and families. This dedication is actively promoted among our employees, fostering a culture of volunteerism and support. Our Community Engagement programs include working with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and extend beyond southeastern Idaho to include western Wyoming. Learn more about INL’s community engagement and support.
Accomplishments and data are from fiscal year 2025.
Donated through community grants
Raised or pledged for the United Way campaign
College of Eastern Idaho investment for workforce development
INL makes the largest contribution to organizations serving the region
Battelle Energy Alliance, operator of the Idaho National Laboratory, and its employees raised $640,000 through employee pledges and corporate donations to support the United Way campaign. These contributions will support regional United Way agencies and their nonprofit partners in 2026. This achievement represents one of the largest United Way workplace campaigns in Idaho, reflecting BEA’s strong commitment to community.
Battelle Energy Alliance commits $4.5M to College of Eastern Idaho
Battelle Energy Alliance approved a $4.5 million legacy investment to support the completion of the College of Eastern Idaho’s newest facility, now named Battelle Energy Alliance Future Tech in partnership with Frontier Credit Union.
The Future Tech building, a roughly $50 million project launching in fall 2026, was funded through a combination of state money and private funds. On Aug. 21, BEA committed $4.5 million to the project, piggybacking an earlier $1 million donation for construction. Frontier committed $3.5 million. As part of the agreement, the building will contain the BEA Applied STEM Institute, which will act as the hub for K-14 STEM education efforts in the region. Frontier will establish a STEM-focused scholarship program.
INL makes the largest contribution to organizations serving the region
INL employees raised or pledged $XX in 2025 to support the United Way campaign, which includes $XXX from Battelle Energy Alliance. INL’s campaign provides the largest contribution the Idaho Falls and Pocatello United Way organizations serving the region. The donations help a growing number of local people struggling due to the rising costs of housing and health care.
Employees build STEM kits for Eastern Idaho students
During an annual all-team meeting for the Information Technology directorate, Chief Information Officer Mark Holtermann asked employees to participate in a team-building exercise to assemble six different STEM projects that totaled 2,000 kits for United Way of Eastern Idaho’s Think, Make, Create program. The program provides hands-on STEM learning opportunities for young students in eastern Idaho. The kits will be distributed throughout this upcoming school year. BEA was proud to support the activity through Team INL.
Interns paint new zoo exhibit
This summer, several interns participated in a Team INL project at the Idaho Falls Zoo to paint an islands exhibit currently under construction. Team INL is a volunteer program where employees dedicate their time to community service projects.
After the project, the zoo director noted, “I just wanted to thank you again for the painting last Friday! Everyone was so pleasant and did such a great job. We appreciate everything the INL does for the zoo and our community!”
Battelle Energy Alliance supports annual CEI Great Race for Education
The Great Race for Education is an annual fundraiser for the College of Eastern Idaho Foundation, which provides scholarships for students in need. Redefining the old scavenger hunt format as a fundraiser, the event combines trivia and intellectual knowledge with cutthroat competitive challenges. Team INL sponsored a team to compete in the challenge and support students at the College of Eastern Idaho. This year’s event raised over $70,000. The BEA team came in sixth place overall.
INL employees support Idaho Falls Community Food Basket food drive
INL employees and their families participated in the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket’s annual fall food drive in October by staffing drop-off locations outside five local grocery stores. The drive collected 7,764 pounds of food and over $3,000 in donations that included a $500 contribution from Battelle Energy Alliance, resulting in the largest opening weekend for this annual drive in over five years. The money will be used to purchase an additional 8,631 pounds of food.
Helping foster youth discover new possibilities
Exemplifying the spirit of volunteerism that can be found across INL, Kris Egan, an engineer in the Biomass Feedstock National User Facility, has hosted fun and educational activities for young people in foster homes. The effort began when Egan and his family responded to a Facebook ad in 2023 aimed at anyone interested in helping kids learn about employment options. Besides ice skating, sledding and trips to Heise Hot Springs, Egan organized a daylong tour of INL. About 20 people toured, including caseworkers and lab employees.
INL Night at Spud Kings hockey
For the second straight year, hundreds of INL employees, interns and guests celebrated INL Night at a Spud Kings hockey game. The event featured a jersey auction that raised over $16,000 for the Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce, a Boise-based nonprofit that helps veterans reintegrate into civilian life. During the game, INL staffed a booth highlighting the lab’s mission and history, reinforcing employee pride and community visibility.
Battelle Energy Alliance supports statewide charitable giving campaign
Battelle Energy Alliance supported eastern Idaho for Idaho Gives, a statewide charitable giving campaign. The 2025 campaign raised $5 million for 627 nonprofits, exceeding its goal. INL’s participation helped elevate the visibility of charitable giving and strengthened relationships with community partners.
INL engages community at events across eastern Idaho
INL hosted booths at high-traffic community events including the Live United Concert Series, War Bonnet Roundup rodeo, the Great Snake River Greenbelt Duck Race, Atomic Days in Arco, Revive at Five in Pocatello, and Experience Rexburg. These events reached a combined audience of over 30,000 people and provided opportunities to engage with students, families and job seekers. INL staff members shared information about the lab’s mission, career pathways and STEM programs, while reinforcing INL values and employee teamwork through cross-directorate participation.
Flowing with innovation: Interactive hydropower exhibit opens in Idaho Falls
INL and Idaho Falls Power recently celebrated the unveiling of a new interactive hydropower exhibit at Heritage Park along the Idaho Falls Riverwalk. Sponsored by INL with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Water Power Technologies Office, the exhibit was designed to mirror the historic lower hydropower plant and educate the community on the benefits of hydroelectric power. Visitors can manipulate water flow to see how it impacts power generation in real time. Leaders from INL, Idaho Falls Power and the City of Idaho Falls spoke about the importance of hydropower, hands-on learning and strong community partnerships.
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